Scotland blow as Robertson is ruled out of Wembley clash
● Left-back will miss vital World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley after suffering calf injury in Hull defeat
Scotland have suffered a major blow with the news that leftback Andy Robertson faces two months on the sidelines.
The 22-year-old limped off in the 63rd minute of his team’s 6-1 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday and tests revealed bad news.
Robertson will now miss his country’s vital World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley on 11 November.
A Hull statement read: “Andy Robertson is likely to besidelined for up to eight weeks with the injury sustained against Bournemouth at the weekend.
“The Scottish international damaged his calf during the second half of the defeat at the Vitality Stadium, with subsequent scans showing that the left-back is set for a spell on the sidelines.”
Robertson will miss several crucial Premier League games which could define his team’s season, with Hull facing Stoke, Watford, Southampton, Sunderland, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace inside the next two months. But it’s the game he will sit out against England which will disappoint Scotland fans as well as manager Gordon Strachan.
Robertson wrote on instagram: “Looks like I’ll be a supporter for the next few weeks! Hopefully the lads can kick on and I’ll be back in no time.”
The former Queen’s Park and Dundee United player was Scotland’s most impressive performer during their 1-1 draw with Lithuania the previoussaturday but made way for Celtic’s Kieran Tierney in their subsequent defeat by Slovakia after suffering a foot injury.
Robertson scored against England in a 3-1 defeat at Parkhead two years ago and has become a Scotland regular. One consolation for Strachan prior to a match that could decide his own future is the strength in depth he has at left-back.
Tierney and Rangers skipper Lee Wallace will now battle for a starting spot against England.
Leigh Griffiths has hit back at Scotland boss Gordon Strachan’s claims he is too small to lead the line for his country by changing his Twitter name to #Shorty.
The Celtic forward responded in light-hearted fashion after Strachan suggested he did not have the required stature to fill the loan striker’s role on the international stage.
Strachan has gone with Derby’s Chris Martin and Steven Fletcher of Sheffield Wednesday up top in the Scots’ three World Cup qualifiers so far.
Griffiths – who measures up at 5ft 8ins and scored 40 goals for his club last term – has been limited to two substitute appearances this time round following on from the total of 15 minutes he was given by Strachan during the whole of Scotland’s failed Euro 2016 bid.
However, Barry Bannan – just 5ft 6ins – started both the Scots’ recent clashes with Lithuania and Slovakia. Strachan’s side took just one point from the double header, denting their hopes of reaching Russia in two years’ time.
Strachan, speaking to several Sunday newspapers, replied after he was asked whether Griffiths would have to accept he would only be used as a substitute: “No, I wouldn’t say that. In the 51 games in the Euro Championships the first 19 goals were scored from setplays. That means you have to have a certain amount of height to defend corner kicks. I’ll give you an example. The team was a lot smaller at 2-0 than it was at 0-0 [in Slovakia] and the first corner kick we get after that, they score with a header. Does that help you with the certain amount of height that you have to have in my team? There’s absolutely no doubt about it.
“People can argue that toss and debate it. But that is fact. You need to have a certain amount of height in international football teams to defend set plays. It’s not just Leigh Griffiths. You’ve got to try and get the balance. I could pick a huge team but there would be a problem passing the ball.
“I could pick the smallest team and they could pass the ball better. But what we’ve struggled with is physical combat in the middle of the park and set plays.
“I’ve got to try and get a balance between height and strength and ability. If you’ve got the whole package then that’s a real bonus.”