MX23RW : Tuesday, April 23 16:18:51| >> :600:2257941:2257941:

Steve Clarke's plans for World Cup qualifiers disrupted by injury and Covid-19

Steve Clarke's plans for World Cup qualifiers disrupted by injury and Covid-19
© Reuters
Steven Naismith has been drafted in to help with training.

Steve Clarke claims he has experienced the most "disruptive" time of his Scotland tenure ahead of the World Cup qualifying triple-header.

Midfielders Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong were already ruled out of the matches against Denmark, Moldova and Austria and they were joined by injured Celtic duo James Forrest and Greg Taylor, who both missed the Hoops' 1-0 defeat  by Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson, along with Aston Villa's John McGinn, who has tested positive for Covid-19, are currently following government guidelines and will not be available for the match against Denmark.

Boss Clarke revealed that set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, who he had just been added to his backroom staff, "has picked up Covid" and will miss the three games, with Hearts coach and former Scotland attacker Steven Naismith drafted in to help.

Clarke said: "Probably two years into my international career it has probably been the most disruptive camp in terms of call-offs, which is disappointing.

"But I think I have enough in the current group to go to Denmark and hopefully  get the result we all want.

"Medical advice and information tells me that both John and Nathan should join us after the Denmark game, which is good, so I don't have to delve too deep for replacements.

"I will work with a slightly smaller squad for the Denmark game and hope to welcome the two boys back on Thursday morning.

"Everyone who is in the squad is fit and available.

"Stephen O'Donnell was not involved at the weekend but was available to be involved, he did a training session yesterday and felt good and will be ready for Wednesday night.

"I don't expect any more issues, that's not to say there won't be any more issues.

Scotland Team Announcement
Stephen O'Donnell is a positive for Clarke (Ian Rutherford/PA)

"Covid has been with us for a long time now, it seems like forever.

"It is what it is, we deal with it, I am sure other nations are having similar problems.

"We will deal with whatever it throws at us and we will get a team on the pitch who will be very competitive."

On MacPhee's absence, Clarke explained: "It is a completely different blow for me.

"I was hoping I would have a new coaching team in place, at the very last minute I asked Steven Naismith – who I know as a player – to step up and become an extra pair of eyes on the training pitch. He will be here for this camp."

ID:461526:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5089:

Click here for more stories about Steve Clarke

Click here for more stories about Scotland

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Lewis Ferguson pictured for Aberdeen in April 2019
Read Next:
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is a long-time admirer of new boy Lewis Ferguson
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal33235577265174
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716


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!