Fletcher left at home, but hopes to be fit for Spain

SCOTLAND captain Darren Fletcher was last night ruled out of Saturday’s must-win Euro 2012 qualifying match against Liechtenstein in Vaduz as he continues his recovery from a bout of tonsillitis.

The Manchester United midfielder will remain at home today while the Scotland squad fly out to Switzerland to prepare for the first leg of their Group I double-header. Fletcher’s condition will continue to be assessed over the next few days in the hope he can join up with his international team-mates in time for next Tuesday’s final group fixture against world champions Spain in Alicante.

On a day of further disruption to his plans, Scotland manager Craig Levein also saw Leeds United winger Robert Snodgrass pull out of the squad with an ankle injury. Wigan Athletic midfielder James McArthur was called up to provide reinforcement in that department in anticipation of Fletcher being unable to travel. Striker Kenny Miller will be on the flight to Zurich this morning, although he still faces a battle to prove his fitness in time to be available against Liechtenstein.

The Cardiff City player limped out of his club’s match at Hull City on Saturday with a groin injury. Fletcher’s absence will be regarded as a significant blow by Levein, even if it is only for the weekend meeting at the Rheinpark Stadium with opponents currently 118th in the Fifa world rankings.

The 27-year-old has appeared in all six of Scotland’s Group I fixtures so far, the only outfield player to be an ever-present in the campaign. Despite missing the start of the season for Manchester United as he recovered from the effects of a debilitating viral complaint which caused him to lose more than a stone in weight at the end of last season, Fletcher made an impressive return to action in Scotland’s qualifiers at home to Czech Repubic and Lithuania last month.

While Levein will regret losing Fletcher’s influence on and off the pitch, he will feel he should have adequate midfield cover against Liechtenstein with Charlie Adam, James Morrison, Barry Bannan, Barry Robson, Don Cowie, Graham Dorrans, James Forrest and late call-up McArthur still at his disposal.

McArthur is back in the squad for the first time since the Carling Nations Cup tournament in Dublin five months ago when he appeared as a late substitute in the 3-1 win over Wales. That was the 23-year-old’s fourth senior cap. He made his debut against the Faroe Islands last November and then started the matches against Northern Ireland and Brazil earlier this year. He has yet to make a competitive appearance.

Snodgrass, who scored in Scotland’s 2-1 friendly win over Denmark at Hampden in August, became the third player to withdraw from Levein’s original 25-man squad.

The Blackpool pair of goalkeeper Matt Gilks and full-back Stephen Crainey both pulled out because of ankle injuries sustained in their club’s match against Bristol City last weekend. They were replaced by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell and Rangers left-back Lee Wallace, the latter back in the Scotland set-up for the first time since sustaining a serious knee injury in the 2-1 win over Liechtenstein at Hampden in September 2010. If Miller, the squad’s leading scorer with 15 goals from 57 appearances, fails to recover from his ailment in time to face Liechtenstein, the Scotland management have already indicated that Brighton and Hove Albion striker Craig Mackail-Smith will be asked to lead the line in what would be his first starting appearance for the national side.

Scotland desperately need to break a dismal three-year run without a goal away from home if they are to achieve the victory which will maintain their hopes of finishing second in Group I and earning a place in the play-offs next month. Discounting matches on neutral soil in Dublin against Northern Ireland and Wales this year, the Scots have not scored on opposition territory in their last seven attempts since the 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Iceland in Reykjavik in September 2008.

If Levein is without both Fletcher and vice-captain Miller on Saturday, he will also have to appoint a new skipper for the night. Wigan captain Gary Caldwell is one of the likeliest candidates, although recalled Middlesbrough defender Stephen McManus may be another contender, having worn the armband on seven previous occasions for Scotland.