Scotland hopeful on McGregor fitness
Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor should be fit to face Macedonia in the World Cup qualifier at Hampden.
McGregor aggravated a groin problem in the goalless draw with Serbia and, with back-up Matt Gilks also a doubt, Craig Samson has been drafted into the squad.
Coach Craig Levein, who also has midfielder Charlie Adam carrying a knock, was asked if McGregor would require an injection to play.
“I don’t think so and I don’t think it is something we would do,” he said.
Levein said that such a process would be something for his club, Besiktas, to undertake.
“He is an experienced player and he will know better than anybody if he is fit to play,” said the coach.
McGregor had picked up a groin injury in last month’s friendly against Australia and missed his Turkish club’s opening two league fixtures but played once for the Turks before joining the Scotland squad.
Gilks deputised for McGregor against the Aussies, but the Blackpool goalkeeper now has a problem himself, leading to the inclusion of St Mirren’s Samson.
“Charlie Adam has a wee problem, Matt Gilks picked up a problem in training yesterday and Allan McGregor has the same thing, but nowhere near as bad as he was,” said Levein, even though none of those three trained on Monday.
“I am hopeful that all three will make it.”
Levein insisted that he had not yet settled on a starting line-up and hinted that he will resist the clamour to hand a start to Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes.
Many fans were calling for the 22-year-old to be introduced against Serbia long before he eventually replaced Kenny Miller with around 10 minutes remaining.
“Jordan Rhodes, in time, will be a fantastic striker for Scotland, he will be a hugely valuable player for us,” said Levein.
“But my job is to try to pick the best team for every situation and you have to understand, while Jordan scored a lot of goals in League One, he hasn’t even really begun his career in the Championship in England.
“I have guys here who are Premiership players, who are experienced and have been involved in these types of occasions before.
“So I have to have some degree of calmness in this and not get caught up in everything.”
Miller was the player chosen to field media questions and appears odds-on to retain his place and could reclaim the captain’s armband after Gary Caldwell took that honour on his 50th cap.
The 32-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps striker does not believe another failure to win would end the Scots’ hopes of qualifying from Group A.
“I wouldn’t say that,” said the veteran forward. “If you get a point and win your next eight, you’re top of the group. It’s as simple as that.
“We played pretty well, we created half chances and a couple of good chances that, on another night, we would have taken.
“We are still positive with the point. “In terms of the crowd, they turned up in their numbers again, they supported the team pretty much throughout the game and towards the end they were getting frustrated.
“We are as frustrated as they are. But it might turn out to be not a bad point against Serbia, who are a very good team.”
Macedonia arrived in Scotland on the back of a 1-0 defeat by Balkan rivals Croatia on Friday, but they are unlikely to show many changes.
That is because Cedomir Janevski’s side gave the top seeds in Group A a difficult game before finally losing to a second-half goal from Everton striker Nikica Jelavic.
