(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Scotland and Manchester United star Scott McTominay is out of the crunch World Cup clash with Moldova tomorrow night after he was sent home from the Scottish training camp suffering from a throat infection.
(Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
McTominay would almost certainly have had a key role for Steve Clarke’s side as they look to secure second place in their qualifying group and a spot in March’s playoffs.
However, they’ll now have to do it without McTominay as he joins injured duo Grant Hanley and Ryan Fraser as absentees from the original squad – with Scotland also without Lyndon Dykes and Ryan Christie through suspension tomorrow night in Chisinau.
A win for Clarke’s side would be enough to secure second place and a World Cup playoff spot but Clarke will now have to look at at alternatives to McTominay after he was sent home.
The Man United star would likely have lined up in defence for Scotland so it will be interesting to see whether Clarke now looks to add a new face to his squad ahead of tomorrow’s game or goes with the existing players.
Hanley’s withdrawal earlier this week will complicate things though with Scotland now a bit short of cover in central defence if Clarke plans to use the three-man defence he’s relied on regularly.
Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Liam Cooper and Kieran Tierney are all available to play at centre-back but Tierney’s recent injury problems makes things even more worrying for Clarke.
The likes of John Souttar could be in line for a call-up if Clarke decides he wants to add more cover – with a clash against Denmark early next week also to come for Scotland.
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