Scotland v Serbia: Charlie Mulgrew back at Celtic for treatment

THERE WAS growing uncertainty about Charlie Mulgrew’s chances of playing for Scotland on Saturday after the full-back returned to Celtic for treatment yesterday, but also officially remained a member of the national squad for the World Cup opener against Serbia.

Celtic were informed on Monday evening that Mulgrew would go back to them for physiotherapy on the Achilles injury which ruled him out of their draw with Hibs at the weekend. He duly reported for treatment yesterday but no definite decision was made on whether he will be fit to play at Hampden. That will apparently have to wait until Scotland’s medical staff consult with their Celtic counterparts.

Certainly, the club had expected the defender to be available for international duty. Although Mulgrew sat out Saturday’s 2-2 draw, manager Neil Lennon thought that rest would enable him to be ready for the Serbia match. And, even if he is unable to play on Saturday, Mulgrew should still come into consideration for the game against Macedonia, also at home, three days later.

“I was surprised,” Lennon said yesterday when asked about Mulgrew’s need for treatment. “He had a rake down the back of his Achilles at Inverness.

“It flared up a little bit, but he was able to play on Wednesday [in the Champions League qualifier against Helsingborgs] and he’s obviously had a bit of a reaction to that. We knew that he wouldn’t be fit for the Hibs game but I thought he would have been okay for the Scotland game. Obviously there’s still a problem there.”

There is still time for that problem to evaporate but, if it does not, Scotland manager Craig Levein will be faced with a dilemma over the composition of his defence.

Danny Fox of Southampton, who was expected to contest the left-back position with Mulgrew, was ruled out on Monday because of a groin strain. Norwich City defender Russell Martin has an ankle knock, and Wolves centre-half Christophe Berra has yet to join up with the squad as his partner is about to give birth. Levein was unable to call on injured pair Phil Bardsley and Steven Whittaker when he named his squad last week.

The uncapped Paul Dixon of Huddersfield and Gary MacKenzie of Milton Keynes Dons were called up on Monday. Both have been in Scotland squads before – Dixon in February 2010 and MacKenzie in November last year.