Brown and Armstrong to miss World Cup qualifiers

Celtic midfielders Stuart Armstrong and Scott Brown will miss Scotland’s World Cup qualifying deciders.

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed at his pre-match media conference yesterday that the pair would not recover from injury in time to face Slovakia and Slovenia next month.

Brown limped off the field against Anderlecht on Wednesday with a tight hamstring while Armstrong sat out the Champions League game in Brussels.

Speaking a day ahead of Celtic’s Ladbrokes Premiership encounter with Hibernian, Rodgers said: “Scott has had a scan so him and Stuart Armstrong will not be available for a few weeks.”

The news is a major blow to Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, whose decision to build his team around Rodgers’ successful side has helped rejuvenate the country’s hopes of reaching next summer’s finals in Russia.

Scotland go into their final two games knowing that victory in each would secure second spot and a potential play-off place.

Strachan will now have to rejig his central midfield and could add reinforcements before his side meet up tomorrow ahead of Thursday’s Hampden clash against Slovakia.

Darren Fletcher is back in the squad after missing the victories over Lithuania and Malta through injury, while James Morrison and James Mcarthur featured in those games. He could also utilise Barry Bannan and John Mcginn in the middle.

Rodgers will now hope both players recover in time for Celtic’s third Champions League group game against Bayern Munich in Germany on October 18.