Scotland hit with fresh major injury concern just hours after naming squad

Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh has emerged as an injury concern for Scotland after coming off injured against Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

Welsh was selected from the start in the Swans’ Championship clash at Fratton Park, but was replaced after 24 minutes with what appeared to be a knee issue.

The 26-year-old immediately signalled to the Swansea coaching staff that he was unable to continue after a challenge by Portsmouth’s Ebou Adams and was replaced by Benjamin Cabango.

Stephen Welsh, right, was replaced after 24 minutes for Swansea City against Portsmouth. | Getty Images

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

Welsh featured in all four matches during the first international window and, after being called up on Tuesday for games against North Macedonia and Switzerland this month, was set to add to that tally.

However, there are now concerns that he won’t be able to link up with Pocognoli and the rest of the Scotland squad, which would leave the head coach short of centre-halves.

Scott McKenna is already absent, with the Dinamo Zagreb defender nursing a back strain. The three other natural options in the squad for that position are Jack Hendry of Al Ettifaq, Stoke City’s Luke Graham and Luis Binks of Brondby.

Should Welsh be required to withdraw from the squad, then Ryan Porteous of LAFC or Wrexham’s Dom Hyam could be brought in as a replacement.