Major Scotland fitness update as Stephen Welsh scan results revealed after Swansea injury scare

Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has received a major fitness boost after Swansea defender Stephen Welsh was cleared of serious injury.

It was feared that the former Celtic centre-back had suffered knee ligament damage following a challenge from Ebou Adams during Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

The 26-year-old immediately signalled to the Swansea coaching staff that he was unable to continue and was replaced by Benjamin Cabango with just 24 minutes on the clock.

But scans have revealed Welsh has no significant problem and he could even feature against Birmingham in the Championship on Saturday before joining up with the Scotland squad next week.

Scotland's Stephen Welsh in action during the 2-0 win over North Macedonia in Skopje last month. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

"Welshy's scan is clear. It's just really a bad knock so there's nothing major," said Swansea head coach Vitor Matos.

"We will still assess if he will be available for Saturday, but it's not a bad injury. It's just a knock that is really, really painful."

The positive news will come as a relief for Pocognoli who is already without Dinamo Zagreb defender Scott McKenna due to a back strain for the Nations League games against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

Welsh has been a mainstay for Swansea since moving to the Welsh club from Celtic last summer and was rewarded for his excellent form by a maiden Scotland call-up by new boss Pocognoli in September.

Welsh featured in all four matches during the first international window and now looks set to add to his cap tally when Scotland host North Macedonia at Hampden on Friday, November 13 before travelling to St. Gallen to face Switzerland on Monday, November 16.