Injury problems mount for Clarke's Scotland

Six games without a victory, 1 triumph successful 14, 3 consecutive defeats, it is not nan clip Scotland caput coach Steve Clarke wants to perceive of much wounded woes, ne'er mind immoderate nonaccomplishment of nine form.

But that is precisely what he is facing arsenic he names his squad connected Tuesday for nan Nations League games distant to Croatia connected 12 October and astatine location to Portugal 3 days later.

John McGinn, Scott McKenna, Ryan Gauld and Tommy Conway are nan latest imaginable absences.

And, of course, Austin MacPhee will besides beryllium missing from nan dugout aft nan set-piece coach decided to ore connected his Aston Villa duties for family reasons.

Here are nan latest dilemmas facing nan nationalist coach:

Angus Gunn again has small title arsenic number 1 considering his accordant starts for Norwich City - unless Clarke decides connected an unexpected callback for seasoned Craig Gordon.

The 41-year-old is keeping Zander Clark connected nan Heart of Midlothian bench, while Robby McCrorie has not won his Kilmarnock spot backmost aft wounded and Liam Kelly remains back-up to Jack Butland pinch Rangers.

Dundee's Jon McCracken could, therefore, clasp his spot aft a precocious call-up past time.

Scott McKenna, who had proved an capable lawman astatine near centre-back during nan continued absence of Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, is an almost definite absentee pinch a hamstring wounded that forced him to miss Las Palmas' tie pinch Real Betis.

With Al Ettifaq's Jack Hendry and Bristol City's Ross McCrorie having not played for their clubs yet this season, and Ryan Porteous and Grant Hanley some play substitutes for Championship sides Watford and Norwich respectively, it leaves Clarke pinch fewer centre-half options who are starting for their clubs.

Liam Cooper astatine slightest played nan afloat 90 minutes of his debut for mid-table CSKA Sofia successful their 0-0 tie distant to third-top Cherno More aft his move from Leeds United to Bulgaria was held up by reddish tape.

The deficiency of options has led to a study suggesting Clarke is considering a first call-up for 28-year-old Liam Lindsay, contempt Preston North End sitting 3rd bottommost of England's 2nd tier.

Similarly, astatine right-back, Nathan Patterson has only conscionable returned to action pinch Everton's reserves, while Anthony Ralston was unused connected Celtic's bench

Max Johnston started a 2-1 triumph distant to Blau-Weiss Linz that took Sturm Graz to nan apical of nan Austrian Bundesliga, but he is 1 of respective young players Clarke has to determine whether would beryllium amended deployed helping nan under-21s successful their important European Championship qualifiers.

Just erstwhile Ryan Gauld's Scotland profession looked to person taken disconnected pinch his first 2 caps disconnected nan chair against Poland and Portugal, nan attacking midfielder missed Vancouver Whitecaps' 1-1 tie pinch Portland Timbers done injury.

Should it unit him retired of Clarke's squad this time, it could summation nan chances of a callback for caller clubmate Stuart Armstrong, nan erstwhile Southampton 32-year-old having travel connected arsenic a substitute connected Sunday.

Especially truthful if John McGinn is ruled retired having missed Aston Villa's latest 2 outings aft being forced disconnected astatine half-time against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It is not each punishment and gloom, though, pinch Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour flying precocious aft their move to Napoli, while Ben Doak's chances of adding to his first 2 caps will person been boosted aft nan 18-year-old winger scored while making his first Middlesbrough commencement connected indebtedness from Liverpool successful their 2-0 triumph complete Stoke City.

Oh, and fit-again Ryan Jack made his first commencement for Esenler Erokspor arsenic they hit Pendikspor 4-0 successful nan Turkish 2nd tier.

It's been a mixed container play for Scotland's meagre excavation of strikers.

Che Adams came disconnected nan chair to people his 3rd extremity since joining Torino arsenic they mislaid 3-2 astatine location to Lazio successful Serie A and must beryllium a footwear successful to beryllium included aft dropping retired past clip done injury.

Lawrence Shankland astatine slightest collapsed his season's scoring duck pinch a deflected effort successful Heart of Midlothian's tie pinch Ross County.

Kevin Nisbet will person boosted his chance of a callback pinch his 3rd extremity since joining Aberdeen connected indebtedness from Millwall successful their triumph complete Dundee.

However, Tommy Conway missed Middlesbrough's triumph complete Stoke pinch an injury, while Lyndon Dykes was taken disconnected astatine half-time earlier Birmingham City fought backmost from 2 goals down to hit Peterborough United successful League One.

As outliers, Jacob Brown returned from wounded arsenic a substitute successful Luton Town's conclusion by Plymouth Argyle, while Oli McBurnie came connected astatine half clip for Las Palmas against Real Betis.