Scotland suffer World Cup blow as defender ruled out of make or break double header
Steve Clarke will be without Max Johnston for the Greece and Denmark games
Max Johnston has been ruled out of Scotland’s vital make-or-break World Cup qualifiers.
The Derby County defender has suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to be out for a minimum of four weeks.
It means the 21-year-old will miss next month’s trip to Greece and the Hampden showdown with fellow group leaders Denmark.
The news is a blow to Johnston and national boss Steve Clarke, as Scotland look to make their first World Cup in 28 years.
The ex-Motherwell full-back was part of this month’s squad that beat Belarus and Greece.
Johnston was carried off late on in Derby’s weekend win over Queens Park Rangers.
Derby County manager John Eustace, speaking earlier in the week, confirmed: “I was really disappointed for Max.
“We’ll have to wait and see on that. But again, it’s another point to show that when you bring in young players from another country, from another level and ask them to play at this intensity in one of the toughest leagues in the world, in my opinion, you’re going to get ups and downs.”
Johnston moved to Derby in the last window after helping Sturm Graz to back-to-back Austrian titles.
Scans this week have confirmed that Johnston will now be out for at least the next month.
Fellow right back Aaron Hickey has returned at Brentford.
Hickey hasn’t played since he injured his knee in the World Cup qualifying win over Belarus.
Clarke will be hoping he can get through until next month unscathed, although Celtic’s Anthony Ralston has also been a regular for Scotland in that position.