World Cup football injury misery for Scots

Scotland’s World Cup qualification hopes received a triple blow on Tuesday with three players pulling out injured ahead of Saturday’s key clash with the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

Rangers pair Kirk Broadfoot and David Weir were the first to be ruled out with the club’s official website adding that they would also miss the following qualifier against Iceland at Hampden next Wednesday.

Broadfoot is suffering foot and calf problems which caused him to miss Rangers 2-2 home draw against Hearts at the weekend.

Ibrox team-mate Weir turned up at Scotland’s Loch Lomond camp last night with a knee injury.

There was then news that Kris Commons had been ruled out of the Dutch game, a Scottish Football Association spokesman confirmed. Rangers full-back Steven Whittaker has been called up.

Commons has not played since Derby’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on February 21 after suffering a calf problem.

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus and his Rangers counterpart Barry Ferguson are meanwhile being assessed at the Scotland camp.

McManus missed Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Dundee United on Sunday with an ankle injury and is a major concern.

Ferguson has a chest injury although he played and scored against Hearts at the weekend.

Scotland are looking to get something out of the Amsterdam game even if it is only a point to boost their hopes of at least finishing second in the group and going through to a two-leg qualification playoff game.