Scott McKenna and Liam Palmer are doubts for Scotland's Euro play-off with Israel

Major defensive headache for Steve Clarke ahead of crucial hampden clash

Liam Palmer went off injured during Sheffield Wednesday's draw with QPR on Saturday and is now a doubt for the upcoming Scotland matches. Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group

Scotland manager Steve Clarke is facing a defensive headache after Scott McKenna was forced to sit out Nottingham Forest’s defeat by Bristol City and Liam Palmer failed to re-emerge for the second half of Sheffield Wednesday’s draw with Queens Park Rangers.

With some of the squad due to meet up on Sunday, ahead of Thursday’s vital Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel at Hampden, the Scotland medical team have been in touch with the respective clubs and it is understood that the English Championship duo are major doubts.

Right-back Palmer was withdrawn after complaining of a sore back. It remains unclear why McKenna was sidelined but he has been troubled in the past by hamstring issues.

Clarke named a larger squad than usual for the upcoming cluster of games, in the hope that it afforded him cover if there were injuries or call-offs. But he will now anxiously wait to see if the players who are in action on Sunday on both sides of the border will come through those matches unscathed.

Celtic and Rangers are playing, against St Johnstone and Ross County respectively, which means games for Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, Jon McLaughlin and Ryan Jack.

There are also a number of Scotland players who could feature in matches in England.

Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Oliver Burke, Oli McBurnie and Stuart Armstrong are all likely to be involved in Premier League games.

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