Five Scotland players absent from training as Euro 2024 preparations begin

Scotland players met up for their first training session today as Steve Clarke’s side stepped up their preparations for Euro 2024.

But there were FIVE notable absentees from the get-together at Lesser Hampden as the Scots took part in a light session. Sky Sports reports that John Souttar, Scott McKenna, Scott McTominay, Stuart Armstrong and Ben Doak were all missing as Clarke’s squad took part in a light session this morning.

Defender Souttar, 27, missed Rangers’ final three games after being forced off injured during the 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park earlier this month. Fellow stopper McKenna missed March’s friendly double-header with the Netherlands and Northern Ireland through injury but played consistently on loan with Copenhagen, last coming off the bench as a sub in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with FC Nordsjaelland.

Meanwhile ex-Celtic playmaker Armstrong’s campaign was curtailed early after suffering a serious muscle injury at the end of April, although Southampton boss Russell Martin backed the 32-year-old to win his race against the clock to be fit for the Euros.

As for McTominay, it’s believed the Manchester United midfielder is nursing a wound suffered in the weekend’s FA Cup win over Manchester City at Wembley. The Tartan Army hero was forced off hobbled off the Wembley pitch in added time but was in the thick of the celebrations as United celebrated a shock triumph.

While Doak only recently returned to action for Liverpool’s Under-21s after undergoing knee surgery to fix a tear in his meniscus back in December. The teenage sensation was drafted in as a wildcard for Clarke’s 28-man provisional after landing his first call-up.

Scotland assistant manager John Carver is expected to deliver a full update on the fitness concerns when he speaks to the media later today.