Hartley: Squad’s quality can get job done

Paul Hartley is confident Scotland can make the Nations League play-offs despite the raft of absentees from Alex McLeish’s squad.

The Scots have three points from two Group C 1 games and travel to face Albania on Saturday before hosting leaders Israel three days later at Hampden.

McLeish was already shorn of several key players before Charlie Mulgrew, Stephen O’Donnell, Kevin McDonald and Craig Gordon withdrew through injury over the weekend.

David Bates, Ryan Jack, Scott McTominay and Scott Bain were drafted in on Sunday.

Former Scotland midfielder Hartley, who played under McLeish during his first spell as national boss, believes there is still enough quality within the squad to top the section.

He said: “We have more than enough quality in the squad to get a result. The likes of the Celtic lads are in form, while Andy Robertson and Ryan Fraser are, too.”

Former Dons loanee Ryan Christie has signed a new three-year deal with Celtic. The former Inverness player’s sparkling recent form has been rewarded with a new deal that will keep him at Parkhead until 2022.

More Scottish Cup games will be televised as part of a new deal with the Scottish FA. In a six-year deal with IMG, who will market the competition globally, BBC Scotland will screen additional games as Premier Sports makes its domestic debut in Scotland.

BBC will screen games from rounds one to three, starting from next season, which will mean Highland League, Lowland League and junior clubs now have an increased chance of being shown on television.