Match: Greece v Scotland
Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
Date: Saturday 15 November
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: BBC Two, BBC Scotland, iPlayer and app; listen on BBC Radio Scotland; live text on BBC Sport online
Scotland have suffered three injury blows ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Piraeus, with midfielder Billy Gilmour ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Greece. Gilmour remains in the squad for the decisive Group C match against Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday but will not travel for the match in Greece.
Midfielder Lennon Miller and defender Ross McCrorie have also withdrawn from the squad. Manager Steve Clarke has called up two replacements: Rangers midfielder Connor Barron and West Ham’s Andy Irving.
Gilmour picked up 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 Champions League draw with Eintracht Frankfurt and Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Bologna, and will sit out Scotland’s trip to Piraeus. The Scottish FA confirmed he will not travel to the training camp in Turkey and will play no part against Greece.
Miller was omitted from Udinese’s squad for their 2-0 defeat 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 as Aaron Hickey has only just returned from injury and Max Johnston and Nathan Patterson remain sidelined.
Scotland sit second in Group C on goal difference behind Denmark. With Denmark expected to beat bottom-placed Belarus, Scotland need at least a point against already-eliminated Greece to force a winner-takes-all showdown with Denmark for the automatic qualifying spot. Finishing second would still leave a route to the World Cup via the play-offs.
Clarke will now decide whether to alter his XI or system for the trip, with the temporary loss of Gilmour and McCrorie affecting midfield control and right-back options. Barron and Irving have been called in to bolster midfield choices ahead of the crucial pair of fixtures.
