SCOTLAND manager George Burley has been hit by the withdrawal of four Rangers players ahead of Wednesday night's friendly international against Croatia.
Captain Barry Ferguson has pulled out with an ankle problem, fellow midfielder Lee McCulloch has a thigh injury, veteran Christian Dailly has a broken toe, while goalkeeper Allan McGregor has also withdrawn from the squad for what is Burley's first match in charge.
Birmingham striker James McFadden also misses the game because of a knee injury, and Stephen Pearson of Derby County has withdrawn. Cardiff City midfielder Gavin Rae has been called into the squad.
The withdrawals mean that Kris Boyd is the only Rangers player left in the Scotland party.
Barry Robson withdrew from the squad this afternoon, although no reason has as yet been given. Four Celtic players remain in the squad: Paul Hartley, Scott Brown, Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell.
- Scotland have announced they will play Northern Ireland at Hampden Park on August 20.
Burley's men will also take on the Czech Republic in Prague on May 30, and have a reciprocal agreement to play the Czechs at Hampden on March 3 2010.
The full article contains 195 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
