Clark Robertson ruled out of Italy friendly

ABERDEEN defender Clark Robertson has been withdrawn from the Scotland Under-21 squad for next week’s friendly with Italy at Easter Road due to injury, the Dons have announced.

The 18-year-old left-back picked up an unspecified knee injury in training yesterday ahead of Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Inverness.

A statement on Aberdeen’s official website www.afc.co.uk read: “Aberdeen FC have this afternoon withdrawn Clark Robertson from the Scotland U21 squad. The youngster was injured in training this morning. He will also be unavailable for the Dons’ trip to Inverness on Saturday.”

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown believes Robertson’s season could now be over, but the full extent of the knee injury will not be known until the swelling has gone down.

Brown told RedTV: “Clark has sustained quite a severe-looking knee injury. We will have to wait for a day or two until the medical staff have had a chance to assess it properly but it was very painful for Clark in training.

“It’s a major disappointment for the lad because he has been playing well and had been called up to the Scotland Under-21 squad to play against Italy next week. I had to phone [Scotland Under-21 boss] Billy Stark and break the sad news to him.”