ECK IN SWEAT OVER NAISY
SCOTLAND boss Alex McLeish is sweating over Steven Naismith’s knee injury and a potential striker crisis for the Nations League deciders against Albania and Israel.
And he’s also been hit by James McArthur’s decision to quit the squad ahead of next month’s crunch double-header.
Naismith, 32, is awaiting results of knee scans after limping out of Hearts’ Betfred Cup semi-final loss to Celtic at Murrayfield.
He could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines and that would be bitter news for the player – who recently suffered two bad knee injuries – as well as for his club and country.
Naismith is top scorer at Tynecastle this term with 11 goals and that form won him an international recall. He repaid that faith by scoring twice – against Albania and Portugal – in his last three outings.
His loss would be a devastating blow for Craig Levein and also McLeish, already facing the prospect of being without Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths after club boss Brendan Rodgers insisted he has no timeline on when the hitman will return from calf issues.
On Naismith, Scotland assistant James McFadden said: “I don’t have any update but it will be a blow if he misses out. It looked as if it’s quite serious but hopefully it’s not as bad and he can get back.”
Former Hamilton ace McArthur confirmed his retirement from Scotland duty in order to concentrate on his club football at Crystal Palace.
The midfielder brought the curtain down on a seven-year international career in which he won 32 caps and scored four goals.
McArthur, 31, has been unavailable since the beginning of the season as he has nursed fitness issues but has now chosen to say farewell for good.
He said: “It is with much regret the time has arrived for me to retire from international football.
“I found it increasingly difficult over the last year to manage a number of physical issues. I have debated long and hard about this decision. It has been an honour.”
McLeish said: “We will miss James but fully respect and understand his need to manage his body as he approaches the latter stages of his career.
“We wish him all the best, he has been not only a valued team-mate but a consummate professional throughout his Scotland career. The challenge now is for our other midfielders to step up into the breach.”