Miller ruled out after failing fitness test but Fletcher back in reckoning

SCOTLAND’S slender hopes of qualifying for a Euro 2012 play-off place were buoyed yesterday morning by the news that skipper Darren Fletcher had been given the green light by club manager Sir Alex Ferguson to join up with his Scotland team-mates – but shortly after the player arrived at the team’s base, it was confirmed that striker Kenny Miller will miss the match against Liechtenstein after failing a fitness test last night.

Miller had looked the more likely to the two to take part in tonight’s match in Vaduz, after injury and illness had hung over the two key players all this week.

But the Cardiff City striker did not complete last night’s training session, and was ruled out when his groin injury was assessed by the Scotland medical team. Manager Craig Levein is hoping Miller will be fit for the last Group I fixture against Spain in Alicante on Tuesday evening.

Brighton striker Craig Mackail-Smith is expected to replace Miller as Scotland’s sole striker tonight, in a game they must win.

Fletcher landed in Zurich yesterday and could complete an amazing recovery from tonsillitis to lead Scotland out at the Rheinpark Stadion this evening.

“These are two huge games and I was determined to be involved in both of them,” said Fletcher on his arrival last night. “I felt a lot better yesterday [Thursday] and spoke to the manager about joining up.

“Obviously there is a lot at stake and everyone knows how passionate I am about playing for my country, so it wasn’t a big decision to make once I started to feel better.”

A victory over Liechtenstein this evening will keep Scotland in the running for a play-off place, ahead of Tuesday’s final qualifier against Spain, who won 2-0 in the Czech Republic last night. Levein has been given a huge boost by Fletcher’s determination to shrug off a bout of tonsillitis.

The skipper had always hoped he would recover in time to face Spain on Tuesday, with the plan being for Fletcher to join with the squad tomorrow in La Manga, where Scotland will decamp ahead of next week’s clash in Alicante. Indeed, earlier this week Levein had firmly ruled his skipper out of tonight’s fixture.

“I made a mistake,” Levein said yesterday. He was delighted to have been proved wrong. The manager had kept in daily contact with Fletcher and on Thursday night it was decided that he should make arrangements to travel from Manchester to Zurich. Ferguson, Fletcher’s Scottish club manager, was kept in the loop. “Darren spoke to his manager and he said, ‘yep, on you go,’” revealed Levein.

Fletcher must still convince the Scotland medical staff that he has returned to full health. “If the medical people say they are happy with him , then he will play,” the manager said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Levein has delayed naming his team until this morning.