Scotland rocked by fresh injury woe as Celtic star 'ruled out' of Nations League double-header

Scotland have been dealt another major injury blow ahead of their Nations League double-header against Croatia and Portugal with Celtic now left with just ONE player in the squad.

It has been a difficult couple of weeks for national team boss Steve Clarke, who has already lost Hoops left-back Greg Taylor and Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland to injury in the lead-up to the two October international matches.

Clarke has also been forced to make do without influential attacker John McGinn due to a hamstring problem, while Lewis Ferguson, Kieran Tierney, Scott McKenna, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson remain sidelined with injuries.

And according to the Scottish Sun, James Forrest has now become the latest player to pull out of the squad after missing the final training session ahead of the Scots trip to face Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday.

The Celtic stalwart - capped 39 times by his country - will remain in Glasgow and return to Lennoxtown for treatment for a suspected knock, with the Scottish champions returning to domestic action in a top-of-the-table encounter against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday, October 19. It’s unclear how serious the injury is but the 33-year-old will be assessed by Celtic’s physio team over the coming days.

Forrest's absence leaves his club teammate Anthony Ralston as the only remaining Celtic star in Clarke’ depleted squad. Taylor dropped out with a reported calf issue at the start of the week in another cruel blow for the ex-Kilmarnock boss to contend with. The recent call offs have forced Clarke into naming six uncapped players.

Goalkeepers Jon McCracken and Robby McCrorie has both been called upon, but veteran Hearts stopper Craig Gordon is expected to start between the sticks in place of crocked Norwich City No.1 Angus Gunn. In-form Aberdeen full-backs Jack McKenzie and Nicky Devlin have been rewarded for their impressive start to the season at Pittodrie, while Preston North End centre-back Liam Lindsay and West Ham United midfielder Andy Irving could also be in line for their first senior caps.

The Scots will be looking to bounce back from agonising defeats to Poland and Portugal in Nations League A as they bid to keep their hopes alive of remaining in the top tier of the competition.