Stewart a shock contender to help Scots deal with striker shortage
ABERDEEN’S Greg Stewart is a surprise contender to be named in the Scotland squad for the first set of Euro 2020 qualifiers.
National coach Alex McLeish will this week name his pool for the opening double-header against Kazakhstan and San Marino and has included the uncapped Stewart’s name on his extended provisional list of players.
That group will be cut for the official announcement but McLeish is short of established striking options, with Hearts’ Steven Naismith injured and Leigh Griffiths of Celtic still on an extended break from the game for personal reasons.
Stewart started the season on loan at Kilmarnock from Birmingham City and excelled, scoring eight goals before being recalled in January and swiftly moving to Aberdeen.
The 28-year-old has been less productive at Pittodrie, scoring just once in a Scottish Cup replay against Stenhousemuir.
Sheffield Wednesday veteran Steven Fletcher stepped in for the Nations League wins over Albania and Israel and is in pole position to start in Astana, while Oliver Burke is in line for a recall after his extended run of football on loan at Celtic from West Brom.
The Scottish champions will again provide the bedrock of McLeish’s squad with Scott Bain, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Callum McGregor all likely to join Burke in the squad.
McGregor has missed Celtic’s last three matches with a calf injury but his club boss Neil Lennon expects him to feature against Dundee a week today.
‘Callum should be all right for Scotland and we are hoping he should be fit for next weekend,’ said Lennon. ‘I’m happy to encourage him and not only that — he might need a game.
‘They want to go and they want to play. The core of that group have been excellent for Scotland. They have helped make a big improvement, they have had a couple of great recent results that sets them up nicely for these two games. Hopefully they keep that momentum going.
‘I will speak to Alex but our physio Tim (Williamson) is working with Scotland, too, so he will keep Alex abreast of everything regarding our boys.’
Ryan Christie, who played a key role as McLeish’s team sealed a Nations League play-off place from the November doubleheader, would also have been included but he remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.
‘I don’t think Ryan will make it,’ added Lennon. ‘It’s a grade two, so it will be another few weeks anyway. He will be a doubt for Rangers (on March 31) for sure.’