Mcburnie out, Paterson in as Clarke suffers new setback

Cardiff utility man Callum Paterson has been called into the Scotland squad after Oli Mcburnie joined fellow striker Lawrence Shankland in pulling out.

Shank land with drew after missing another Dundee United game on Saturday– an ankle injury has ruled him out since the opening day of the Premiership season on 1 August.

No reason has been given for the withdrawal of Mcburnie, who was talked up by Scotland boss Steve Clarke when he named his squad, but the centre-forward was not involved in a 22-man Sheffield United squad for a friendly against Hearts on Friday.

The two withdrawals have left Clarke further lacking in strikers so the versatile Pat er son has been added to the party for upcoming Nations League games against Israel and the Czech Republic.

Clarke was already missing Leigh Griffiths, wit h the Celtic striker yet to feature this season and struggling with a calf injury. Steven Naismith was omitted after Hearts’ pre-season was interrupted and US - based Johnny Russell was unavailable due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

For wards Oli Burke and Lyndon Dykes remain from Clarke’s original squad and could get the no d to face Israel on Friday.