Murray and Edmund will miss Glasgow tie

TENNIS: Evans returns as pair are left out of Great Britain’s meeting with Uzbekistan

Andy Murray will not feature in Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan in Glasgow next week after deciding to remain in the United States to continue his rehab.

Kyle Edmund, who was suffering with the lingering effects of illness during his first-round loss at the US Open, will also skip the clash but Dan Evans returns for his first Davis Cup appearance since his doping ban.

Evans will be joined by Cameron Norrie, who will lead the team at the Emirates Arena in only his second tie, Jay Clarke, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot.

Andy Murray had expressed hope of featuring in what could potentially have been his last competitive appearance in Scotland after his grand slam comeback ended with a second-round loss to Fernando Verdasco in New York.

But, after several setbacks in his recovery from the hip injury that sidelined him for nearly a year, the Scot is determined to be ultra cautious about his scheduling.

Captain Leon Smith said: “It was a massive pull for him and that’s why he was really considering it but, after what he has gone through, it’s absolutely clear that he has to listen to the team around him. But I know it was not an easy decision.

“He’s made really good progress from where he has been. But he’s just missed so much tennis. As much as I’m disappointed and I’d love to see him there, it is absolutely the right move.”

Edmund will spend the time trying to find an answer to the bouts of illness that have affected him at several points during the year, although eyebrows will justifiably be raised if he keeps his commitment to playing in the exhibition Laver Cup the following week.

For Evans, the call-up represents a welcome back to the British team five months after the end of his one-year drugs ban and a recognition of the hard work he has put in away from the spotlight to pull his ranking back to 224.

“History is in the past,” said Smith. “He’s playing well. It’s astonishing how quickly he’s moved up the rankings. He’s got good Davis Cup experience and indoor is a good surface for him so I don’t have any reservations about him at all.”

With the controversial changes coming in next year, this could be Britain’s last home tie for several years, and certainly the last time they will play Davis Cup over best-of-five sets.

The tie will not decide promotion or relegation, as had originally been thought, with the winners instead guaranteeing a seeding for the first round in February 2019, increasing the chances of qualifying for the new World Cup-style finals later in the year.