The injury which forced Sheffield United striker Ollie McBurnie out of the Scotland squad for their Euro 2020 qualification games has yet to be revealed. The 23-year-old Leeds-born hitman, who joined the Blades from Swansea in a club-record deal worth up to £20million in the summer, had been looking to add more caps to his collection in this international fortnight.
Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army face must-win Euro 2020 Group I qualifiers against Russia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday and at Hampden Park against San Marino on Sunday.
However, McBurnie was forced to withdraw from the squad earlier this week with a knock and is now undergoing treatment with the Blades. The severity of the problem is not yet known but boss Chris Wilder will hope that McBurnie is fit for the Premier League encounter with Arsenal on October 21.
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His absence would be a big blow given that he has featured in the majority of the Blades’ matches this season, scoring one goal in nine appearances. If McBurnie is injured then it could pave the way for fellow summer signing Lys Mousset to be included against the Gunners, alongside Callum Robinson in attack.
The Frenchman has featured five times from the bench for United this season, scoring one goal in the win over Everton. Wilder has previously said that Mousset, who signed in a £10m deal from Bournemouth, is closing in on a first-team call-up and this latest injury issue could accelerate that.
Scotland have called up Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong in place of McBurnie, despite the fact he has not started a game for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side so far this season. Grant Hanley, Liam Cooper, John Souttar and Craig Halkett are also out of consideration for Scotland due to injury as the side sit fifth in the group and are nine points behind Russia in second spot.
