World Cup qualifying Group C: Greece v Scotland
Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus Date: Saturday, 15 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC Two, BBC Scotland, iPlayer & app; listen on BBC Radio Scotland; live text commentary on BBC Sport online
Scotland have been hit by three injury setbacks ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Piraeus, with likely starter Billy Gilmour ruled out of Saturday’s match against Greece.
Gilmour remains in the squad for the potential Group C decider with Denmark at Hampden Park three days later, but will not take part in the trip to Greece. Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller and Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie have both withdrawn from the squad.
Steve Clarke has called up two midfielders as replacements: Rangers’ Connor Barron and West Ham’s Andy Irving.
Gilmour sustained an adductor problem just before half-time in Napoli’s 0-0 draw with Como a little over a week ago. He subsequently missed Napoli’s midweek Champions League draw with Eintracht Frankfurt and Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Bologna, captained by Scotland team-mate Lewis Ferguson, as the Italian champions slipped from first to fourth.
The Scottish FA said: “Billy Gilmour will not travel to the training camp in Turkey due to an injury so will play no part in the game against Greece.”
Miller was absent from Udinese’s squad for their 2-0 loss to Roma, while McCrorie was substituted after 57 minutes of Bristol City’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
McCrorie had been recalled by Clarke to provide right-back cover, with Brentford’s Aaron Hickey only recently returned from injury and Derby County’s Max Johnston and Everton’s Nathan Patterson still sidelined.
Scotland lie second in the group behind Denmark on goal difference. With Brian Riemer’s Denmark likely to beat bottom-placed Belarus, Scotland need at least a point against already-eliminated Greece to force a winner-takes-all final match with Denmark for the automatic qualifying spot. The second-placed team would still have a route through the play-offs.
