MX23RW : Tuesday, May 21 17:59:33| >> :600:418026:418026:

Andy Considine and Paul McGinn earn Scotland call-ups for Nations League

National team manager Steve Clarke suffered a series of withdrawals from his initial squad.

Scotland have added uncapped defenders Andy Considine and Paul McGinn to their squad for the Nations League double-header against Slovakia and Czech Republic.

The pair have been called up after national team manager Steve Clarke suffered six withdrawals in the build-up to Thursday's Euro 2020 play-off semi-final penalty shoot-out win against Israel.

Considine, 33, is a former Under-21 international who has spent his entire club career with Aberdeen.

Hibernian full-back McGinn, 29, joins his brother, Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, in the squad.

Clarke's initial 26-man selection was severely hit by coronavirus issues and injuries earlier in the week.

Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie were both ordered to self-isolate after Stuart Armstrong tested positive for Covid-19, while forward Oliver Burke and defenders Scott McKenna and Liam Palmer all pulled out injured.

Clarke's side overcame the late disruption to set up a Euro 2020 play-off final against Serbia next month after winning the national team's first-ever penalty shoot-out following their first extra-time in almost five decades.

And with Hampden Park games to follow on Sunday against Slovakia and the Czechs three days later, Clarke hopes to ease the burden on his players.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke saw his initial squad depleted by injury and illness
Scotland manager Steve Clarke saw his initial squad depleted by injury and illness (Andrew Milligan/PA)

"We are going to have to come down, unwind a little bit," he told the Scotland media team.

"I am missing a few players through different circumstances, so we are going to have to have a look and get some players to join us to boost the squad.

"It was a big effort over 120 minutes for a lot of the players and it's going to be almost impossible for them to play the next two games, a full 90 minutes.

"There is a little bit of thinking to do for the coaches and hopefully we come up with the right formation for the next two games."

The victory over Israel was tense and tight, with Scotland having the better of the scarce chances but Israel also enjoying some decent spells of possession.

Hibernian's Paul McGinn, right, joins brother John McGinn in Scotland's squad
Hibernian's Paul McGinn, right, joins brother John McGinn in Scotland's squad (Jane Barlow/PA)

However, David Marshall's penalty stop from Eran Zahavi and Kenny McLean's winning kick extended Scotland's unbeaten run to six matches.

There remains obvious room for improvement performance-wise, but Clarke pointed out that results would help that gradual process.

"Another game where we come out victorious," he said.

"We are trying to build something, and I think people maybe underestimate that a bit.

"We are trying to build and slowly, slowly you have to build character, you have to build confidence, you have to build quality. That will come. the more results you get, the better we will become."

ID:417812: cacheID:417812:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8386:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Nir Bitton during a Celtic training session on November 7, 2018
Read Next:
Nir Bitton: 'I'll be in big trouble if I'm not ready for Rangers game'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!