Israel keep quiet on Bitton as he joins up with squad

A week after being injured against Sarajevo it appears that Nir Bitton is in contention for a place in the Israel side that faces Scotland tonight.

The midfielder converted into a defender lasted less than 10 minutes in Bosnia with Neil Lennon fearful of another lengthy lay-off.

Bitton was outstanding at Hampden last month against Scotland and has joined up with his international squad ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 Play-Off Semi-Final.

Israel’s chances of progressing to a match against Norway or Serbia will be increased if they can pick the ‘injured’ Celt with manager, Willi Ruttensteiner refusing to discuss Bitton when quizzed about his team selection.

He told The Sun:

Let me say that I will confirm no player to you. That would not be clever from my side. We have 23 players here – one player has the virus and is isolated – and every one of them can be in the first XI. So that is my statement.

Hatem Abd Elhamed is also in the Israel squad with Callum McGregor an almost certain starter for Steve Clarke’s side.

Lennon was clearly concerned by the knock that Bitton picked up in the opening stages of the win over Sarajevo but the next time that he gets to work with the player he may have gone through three international matches in seven days.