Mulgrew becomes latest Scotland withdrawal

Celtic’s Charlie Mulgrew is the latest defender to exit the Scotland squad through injury, with Bristol City’s Ricky Foster his replacement.

The Scots are struggling for cover at full-back after Danny Fox and Russell Martin were ruled out earlier.

Wolves centre-half Christophe Berra had given coach Craig Levein a boost by joining the squad after his partner gave birth to a girl.

But that has been followed by confirmation of Mulgrew’s withdrawal.

The PFA Scotland player of the year last season had been receiving treatment for an Achilles problem.

Levein, who had called up Huddersfield Town left-back Paul Dixon and similary uncapped MK Dons centre-half Gary MacKenzie earlier in the week, was delighted that Berra was now available to face Serbia.

“He has been training at his club this week so there are no issues with him fitness-wise and I am sure he will come up on a high,” the coach said.

“Christophe is a very important player for us and it will be good to have him available for Saturday.”

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who left Rangers for Besiktas in the summer, will play in the opening World Cup qualifying Group A match at Hampden having recovered more quickly than expected from the groin strain that forced him off in the friendly against Australia last month .

However, it is a groin strain that has denied the Scots the services of Southampton left-back Fox, who was likely to start against the Serbs, while Norwich City’s Russell has an ankle knock.

Lee Wallace was unavailable to be considered as a late replacement as the Rangers left-back has a hamstring injury.

Following Saturday’s game against the Serbs, the Scots face Macedonia at Hampden next Tuesday.

Houston gave a hint of how Scotland will play against the much-praised Serbians.

“It’s about how we raise our game,” he said. “We’ve got a talented team and it’s about how we go about it.

“We’ll be working at starting the game well and being on the front foot, rather than allowing them possession and allowing them to knock the ball about.

“I think we’re at our best when we’re in their faces and trying to win the ball back. That gives the fans a lift and I’m sure the players can do that.”

Houston pointed to the 3-2 defeat by Spain in their Euro 2012 campaign, when Scotland came from two down before losing a late goal, as a perfect lesson.

“I thought against Spain we sat off them and gave them too much respect at first,” the Dundee United manager said.

“They went ahead and we decided ‘let’s get in about them’.

“That’s when we are at our best, playing at a high tempo. Spain was a great example, that’s how we have to go about it.”