Scotland gaffer Eck fears loss of rhythm after key men pull out

SCOTLAND manager Alex McLeish admits he fears losing some of the rhythm of their recent triumphs after Kieran Tierney became the latest player to pull out of their Euro 2020 opener.

However, McLeish hopes the much-criticised trip to Peru and Mexico last summer will pay dividends for today’s contest i n Kazakhstan.

Tierney failed to overcome the fitness issue which affected him during Celtic’s win over Dundee on Sunday and looks set to be replaced by Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie in the Astana Arena.

The 21-year-old was missing with a pelvic injury when Scotland overcame nine call-offs to beat Albania and Israel i n November but he was the natural replacement for Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who missed the team flight after being told to undergo dental surgery.

McLeish is missing six of the players who started in both of the games which ensured Scotland topped their Nations League group, with Allan McGregor retired from international football, Callum Paterson and Ryan Fraser both ruled out because of the artificial surface, and Steven Fletcher and Ryan Christie injured.

The Scotland manager said: “It is disappointing to lose my captain Andy Robertson and also Kieran. It’s really bad luck because they are two fantastic players.

“But we are lucky to have a player of Graeme Shinnie’s quality, who can slot in different positions. I don’t want to give you my team at this moment but he is certainly a candidate.”

McLeish added: “We want to try to get a little bit of familiarity in the set-up every time we name the squad. If you keep changing the team then you lose a little bit of rhythm. It doesn’t matter how good the players are.”

Scotland manager Alex McLeish.