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Ange Postecoglou: James Forrest and Greg Taylor unlikely to join Scotland squad

Ange Postecoglou: James Forrest and Greg Taylor unlikely to join Scotland squad
© Reuters
The Celtic boss said after Sunday's Old Firm defeat that both players looked set to miss the September games.

Celtic duo James Forrest and Greg Taylor are "unlikely" to join up with the Scotland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, according to their club boss Ange Postecoglou.

Both players missed the Hoops' 1-0 cinch Premiership defeat by Old Firm rivals Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

Postecoglou was asked after the match if Forrest would be available for his country and said: "I would say unlikely."

Celtic v West Ham – Pre Season Friendly – Celtic Park
Ange Postecoglou, pictured, feels James Forrest and Greg Taylor are "unlikely" to link up with Scotland in September (Jane Barlow/PA)

Then, quizzed about Taylor, who has a shoulder problem, the Australian replied: "Again, I would say unlikely, but I will leave that to the medical teams. Greg wasn't ready today so I think unlikely.

"He (Forrest) was close. We had him in the squad. He trained (on Saturday) and he just didn't feel 100 per cent.

"It is a long season and we didn't want to unnecessarily throw him in there.

"I was hopeful. As of (Sunday) morning he was still in the squad and we had to pull him out."

Scotland face Denmark (Sep 1) and Austria (Sep 7) with a home game against Moldova (Sep 4) in between.

John McGinn has confirmed he is out of the game against Denmark after testing positive for coronavirus.

The self-isolating Aston Villa midfielder missed his team's Premier League draw against Brentford on Saturday and later revealed he returned a positive Covid test last Monday.

"All the Scotland boys are close so it's been difficult keeping this quiet and not telling them I won't be playing," McGinn told the Sunday Mail. "That's been strange but I'll be the same as everyone else on Wednesday – I'll be a Scotland fan.

"I'm not naive enough to think I'll just come back and be absolutely flying but I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I'm ready for the Moldova game (on Saturday) if and when I get a negative test next week."

The 26-year-old later added on Twitter that he had "no symptoms" and was "feeling fine".

Euro 2020 Package
There was mixed news for Scotland manager Steve Clarke about his players this weekend (Jane Barlow/PA)

Southampton's Stuart Armstrong had already withdrawn due to of calf injury.

Motherwell right-back Stephen O'Donnell could be a doubt after missing his side's 1-0 win over Dundee on Saturday through illness, the third match in a row he has sat out.

There was better news elsewhere for Scotland boss Steve Clarke as two strikers returned from illness to score for their teams.

Lyndon Dykes came off the bench to net his third goal of the season in QPR's 2-0 victory over Coventry while Kevin Nisbet struck in Hibernian's 2-0 win against Livingston.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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