Rangers may ask for Macleod to leave Scotland duty

Ally McCoist will consider asking Scotland coach Gordon Strachan to release Lewis Macleod from international duties so he is available to play for Rangers on Saturday.

The young midfielder was last week named in the Scotland squad for matches against Republic of Ireland and England. But if Macleod is merely to be an observer for the Euro 2016 qualifier against the Irish on Friday, Rangers manager McCoist says he may ask permission to have him back briefly for the game against Alloa Athletic on Saturday.

“I wouldn’t rule that out,” McCoist said. “From our point of view it would make sense but I do appreciate that he is Gordon’s player for these five or six days. But that’s something we would possibly have a look at. Hearts are trying to do that with two of their under-21 players so I will certainly have a chat with Gordon.”

Hearts asked – and were granted – permission to have Sam Nicholson and Jordan McGhee released so they can play against Falkirk on Saturday. Scotland U21s have a game against Switzerland three days later, the same day the senior national side face England at Celtic Park.

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