Greg Taylor is the latest international worry for Ange Postecoglou.
The defender is among a number of Scotland players to have picked up a bug which has effected the backroom staff as well as the playing squad. With the SFA trusted to look after players paid by clubs some questions could be asked about the way the group has been dealt with on this break, covering three international matches.
With Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney out through injury Taylor looks certain to start against Ukraine tonight but a report in the Daily Record puts that in doubt:
Steve Clarke insists Scotland have the guts to go for glory against Ukraine despite a sickness bug ravaging his injury-hit squad.
The national boss reckons he’s already been robbed of 16 players for tonight’s Nations League Group B1 showdown – and several others have been laid low by a virus including both his main strikers Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes.
Stuart Armstrong, Greg Taylor, Ryan Fraser and several backroom staff have all been hit and Clarke is hoping they can recover in time – and is praying no more of his men are sunk.
Adams and Taylor took part in some of yesterday’s training session and all were on the plane bound for Poland last night. But Clarke admitted his preparations have gone to pot as he looks to avoid defeat and send the Scots to the top tier of the Nations League and bag a guaranteed play-off place for he Euros as well as a spot as second seeds for the qualification campaign.
Unless he is 100% fit Taylor shouldn’t be put at risk tonight, at the weekend Steven Kingsley of Hearts was called in to provide cover at left-back and in central defence.
Taylor has started all of Celtic’s SPFL and Champions League matches with Alexandro Bernabei’s only start coming away to Ross County in the League Cup.
With Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt missing the last domestic match the last thing that Celtic need is to be without Taylor when they face Motherwell on Saturday.
