Craig Levein has called up Craig Samson of St Mirren as concerns grow over the fitness of Allan McGregor and Matt Gilks for Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Macedonia at Hampden this evening.

McGregor, the Besiktas goalkeeper, is struggling with a groin injury exacerbated in the draw against Serbia. Gilks, of Blackpool, also has a groin problem, leaving Cardiff City's David Marshall as the only fully-fit goalkeeper.

Levein, who described some of the reaction to Saturday's draw as "hysterical", claimed Scotland were still in a good position to qualify and said there would be more "energy" against Macedonia as he team seeks to play in a "high tempo" style. He is likely to bring in James Forrest for Robert Snodgrass and Jamie Mackie may also start if Charlie Adam succumbs to an unspecified injury. Kenny Miller, though, is almost certain to start in preference to Jordan Rhodes.

Speaking at Scotland's Mar Hall training base, Levein said of McGregor: "He is an experienced player and he will know better than anybody if he is fit to play. But I spoke to him and Matt this morning and they are fairly positive, and so is Charlie."

He added of McGregor: "He played with an injection for his club but it's a different thing altogether to do that with the national team. He'll decide if he's fit enough or not. If he's fit, he plays."

Levein insisted that his side had played "reasonably well" on Saturday and that the result was "not a bad start to the campaign".

He added: "We want to get the three points against Macedonia and then there is a scenario, not too far-fetched, that we could go to the top of the group. So we have a long way to go. For me it is all about being calm and dealing with these situations as they arise."