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Scotland suffers a vicious double injury… as Premier League duo Kieran Tierney and Scott McKenna are BOTH banned from their pivotal Nations League game against Ukraine
- Scotland will play against Ukraine in the Nations League in Krakow on Tuesday
- Scotland needs a point to promote to Pool A of the Nations League
- They will have to get this result without Kieran Tierney and Scott McKenna
- The two defenders will both be unavailable after sustaining injuries
- They have been replaced in the squad by Stephen Kingsley and Barrie McKay
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Scotland suffered a severe double blow on Sunday night when Kieran Tierney and Scott McKenna were excluded from Tuesday night’s crucial Nations League game against Ukraine.
Steve Clarke already missed Manchester United’s Scott McTominay through suspension, but quickly enlisted the Hearts duo of Stephen Kingsley and Barrie McKay for Monday afternoon’s flight to Krakow.
Starters in the 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland at Hampden, the double loss to Arsenal’s Tierney and Nottingham Forest centre-back McKenna represents a setback for hopes of claiming the only point the Scots need to make a European Championship play off and secure promotion to Pool A of the Nations League.
Kieran Tierney banned from Scotland’s game against Ukraine on Tuesday night
Scott McKenna will also have to sit out Scotland’s game in Krakow due to injury
Victim of an innocent collision with Irish striker Troy Parrott, Tierney fell with his head to the ground before halftime.
Reluctant to leave the fight on medical advice, concussion protocols forced the fullback back to his club Arsenal for further assessment.
With no signs of injury in the drama of a late win over Ireland, McKenna’s withdrawal with a knee injury is more unexpected. Solid in back-to-back wins over Ukraine and the Irish, the 25-year-old’s loss led to a call-up for 28-year-old left-sided Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley.
Kingsley and club-mate McKay received their only previous caps in a season-end 2016 Euro 2016 warm-up against France in June 2016, the game ending in a 3-0 defeat.
Stephen Kingsley has been included in Scotland’s roster as a late substitute
Barrie McKay has also been added to Steve Clarke’s roster ahead of their Krakow trip
Meanwhile, Callum McGregor has urged Scotland to seize the opportunity to compete with Europe’s elite countries.
First place in League B Group 1 would guarantee Clarke’s side a play-off spot for Euro 2024 – as well as the chance of a more favorable draw when the qualifying draw takes place in Frankfurt on 9 October.
But Celtic skipper McGregor believes promotion to League A – and the chance to play against countries such as Spain, Germany and Belgium – would be a real indicator of the progress the side have made in recent years.
“That’s where we want to be,” he said. “That was the goal and goal for us when the Nations League started and we were in Pot C.
Callum McGregor wants Scotland to seize their chance and promote to Pool A of the Nations League
“We wanted to climb into the pots and play against better teams and that would ultimately develop the team and make players better.
“That’s where we want to be and we understand the consequences of the group and this Tuesday night game.
“It’s a big game for us and we have to do everything we can to perform.
“We understand that we are now in a great position to be at the top of the group. Now all that matters is that you are going to try and finish that job.
“We’ll try to get the emotion out, do everything right and try to outdo the group.”