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Five withdraw from Scotland squad for Czech friendly

27/05/2008

Five players have withdrawn from the Scotland squad ahead of their friendly against Czech Republic in Prague on Friday.

Rangers striker Kris Boyd is the latest to announce he is unavailable for the match, joining team-mates Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker.

However, it is perhaps unsurprising to see the three Ibrox men withdraw from the squad following their busy end to the domestic season with Rangers.

Manager George Burley had already taken this in to consideration by leaving out follow Rangers players Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, David Weir and Lee McCulloch, but now sees his resources further depleted.

Joining Boyd, Thompson and Whittaker on the sidelines are Everton forward James McFadden and Tottenham Hotspur full-back Alan Hutton, who have a calf injury and infected toe respectively.

Hibernian's Steven Fletcher and Celtic's Stephen McManus both missed training today but Burley expects both players to be fit enough to play on Friday.

He said: "Boyd was here this morning but he has a tight hamstring so he will not be available.

"Steven Fletcher didn't train because he had a bang on the chest on the last day of the season, while Stephen McManus has a groin strain. But he is very keen to play so hopefully he will be fit."

Burley added: "It's frustrating but maybe it comes with the territory. There is nothing we can do about it so it's a case of pushing on."

Motherwell striker David Clarkson has been added to the squad to replace Boyd.