STEVE Clarke has admitted that Paul McGinn, the uncapped Hibernian right back who was yesterday called into the Scotland squad ahead of the Qatar 2022 qualifier against Austria, was not his first choice replacement.
Kenny McLean and Nathan Patterson have both been ruled out of the Group F match in Vienna tonight by the knocks they picked up in the 1-0 triumph over Moldova at Hampden on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Ryan Fraser, who had performed well at right wing back in the 2-0 defeat to Denmark in Copenhagen last Wednesday, has also returned home after suffering an injury in training on Sunday.
Clarke is set to restore Stephen O’Donnell, who played in all three Euro 2020 group games in the position in June, to his starting line-up in the Ernst-Happel Stadion.
McGinn, the elder brother of current Scotland midfielder John, will provide cover for the Motherwell man after returning a negative Covid-19 test result in time to satisfy UEFA protocols.
The national team manager has played Liam Palmer of Sheffield Wednesday at right wing back in the past, but he left the eight-times capped defender out of his Euros squad in the summer.
There have also been calls from Scotland supporters for Celtic player Anthony Ralston, who has been in outstanding form for the Parkhead club in recent weeks, to be selected this season.
Clarke - who was unable to draft in a late replacement for O’Donnell last week when it emerged the 29-year-old, who had been suffering from coronavirus, would not be allowed to enter Denmark - was pleased to be able to add McGinn to his squad.
“It’s just been a really tough schedule and a difficult time,” he said. “But I’ve managed to call up a player and get someone into the squad.
“It’s not the first time I’ve tried to do that over the course of the camp. But we have managed to get Paul McGinn in and that will give us cover in the right-back position, which is good.
“I’m not going to give out any names, but I have tried more than one. For various reasons we haven’t managed it up until now. But it’s nice to get one in to give us that little bit of cover.”
Clarke added: “There are no issues, none whatsoever. We keep watching them all and there are no issues with me and any of the players.
“Liam is very much one that we’ve got our eye on. We keep watching all the players and there are a lot of players who haven’t been involved, who weren’t involved in the Euros, who wanted to be involved in the Euros.”
Asked if Ralston had been considered, Clarke said: “Circumstances dictate that Paul was the player we brought in. He wasn’t on stand-by because I didn’t think I was going to lose Ryan Fraser especially who can cover at right wing-back.
“That was a late one, but we managed to get Paul Covid tested and into the camp. He’s not the first one we tried to bring in over the camp. But circumstances sometimes go against you and you don’t manage to get the boys in.”
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