Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has his fingers crossed that captain and Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson will be fit for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria after a planned fitness substitution against Moldova.
Robertson played 90 minutes during the midweek defeat to Denmark but was substituted after 73 during a 1-0 win over Moldova. It moves Scotland into third place in World Cup 2022 qualification Group F and a win over Austria in Vienna on Tuesday could leave them second. Robertson suffered ankle ligament damage with Liverpool last month.
The Liverpool man limped off injured. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
He recovered in time to make the international break but it forced him out of the Moldova game early as he was making his 50th international appearance, seen limping just prior to being replaced by Liam Cooper. Clarke is hopeful the Liverpool left-back can recover quickly.
Scotland’s head coach said (Sky): “Andy was struggling a bit on the left so I had to try and protect him. I am hoping he is ok for Tuesday. It’s just a consequence of him being out injured at Liverpool. He played the full game against Denmark and the plan was always to try and get him off in this game.
“We could have been doing with the second goal to make things more comfortable but it wasn’t a nervous game. We created a lot of chances so we just have to be more clinical.”
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