McInnes says McKenna is a doubt for Scotland

ABERDEEN boss Derek

McInnes last night revealed

Scott McKenna is a doubt for Scotland’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final after he appeared to tear his hamstring in the Scottish Cup victory at St Mirren.

The centre-back limped off in the 52nd minute of the Dons’ quarter-final triumph in Paisley — and there are fears he could be missing for his country when Steve Clarke’s men face Israel at Hampden on March 26.

Asked if McKenna may be ruled out for Scotland, McInnes replied: ‘Probably. It depends on the scan on Monday and the grade of the hamstring tear.

‘I don’t know how serious it is but it will depend on the results of the scan as to whether he will be fit for Scotland. Hopefully, he will be back for us before then.

‘I don’t know how significant Scott’s hamstring is. His back was a bit stiff and he stopped training on Thursday. It’s actually his other hamstring, so we’ll have to wait and see how it is. The pitch was really a challenge for the hamstring too.

‘It doesn’t leave us blessed with too many options but, thankfully, we were able to call on Mikey (Devlin).’

Lewis Ferguson’s early strike and Sam Cosgrove’s penalty in stoppage time sealed Aberdeen’s fourth successive Scottish Cup semi-final spot and a return to Hampden.

McInnes hopes another last-four appearance can help improve their stuttering form in the Premiership.

‘We know the importance of the cups,’ he said. ‘We have done since day one here. We’ve been in umpteen semi-finals and finals. We’re a cup team and we showed the spirit we displayed at Rugby Park (4-3 fifth-round replay win) to get the job done here.

‘Sometimes you need brilliance like Fergie (Lewis Ferguson) did and sometimes it is sheer tenacity and will.’

St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin said: ‘I was confident we could progress again but the goals we’ve conceded are terrible.

‘They are so avoidable. If a team plays you off the park, you can hold your hands up.’