Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has been left out of Scotland’s World Cup play-off squad for their game against Ukraine next week.
The game on June 1 was initially postponed because of complications surrounding the war in Ukraine but it has now been rearranged with the winner facing Wales for a place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Tierney is currently recovering from knee surgery and has not featured for Arsenal since the end of March.
The absence is a big blow for Scotland who will miss one of their main defenders for one of the most important games in their history.
Some notable mentions for the rest of the Scotland squad are that Billy Gilmour makes the squad despite missing Norwich’s last game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.
David Marshall has been included in the squad meaning Steve Clarke has chosen four goalkeepers in his 28-man squad.
Andy Robertson, Liam Cooper, and Grant Hanley have all made the cut and are likely to make up the defensive shape of Scotland’s starting XI.
Stuart Armstrong, John McGinn, and Scott McTominay are selected as expected and Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes and Ross Stewart have maintained their places since the last squad.
A win against Ukraine could mean that Scotland have five games throughout June with Nations League fixtures making up the remaining three games.
Armenia and the Republic of Ireland are penned in the diary for the 8th, 11th and 14th of June.
Scotland will be hoping for some positive results on this international break with the opportunity of a first World Cup 1998 on the cards with wins over Ukraine and Wales.
The winner will join Group B with England, USA and Iran currently waiting for their final counterpart.
