JAMES MORRISON, the Scotland midfielder, is out of the opening European Championship qualifier against world champions Germany in Dortmund on September 7.
Alan Irvine, the West Bromwich Albion manager has revealed that Morrison is at least a month away from a comeback as he continues his recovery from summer knee surgery.
Morrison would have almost certainly have started against the Germans, but just getting back into full training is his immediate target.
"It is a big concern for us as he is a really important player," said Irvine. "Clearly we could have done with him being part of us for the whole of pre-season.
"Unfortunately, he had an operation just before pre-season started and sadly it has taken him an awful lot longer to get back than was predicted. It is a big disappointment.
"It is not a career threatening injury or anything like that. [But] I haven't been given any timescale on when he can return."
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