Fellaini knee injury gives Scotland a boost

Scotland have been handed a boost ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifier against group favourites Belgium after it emerged that Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini will miss the game due to a knee injury. Scans yesterday showed the imposing 24-year-old had damaged knee ligaments in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic and will now require three weeks on the sidelines.

Fellaini is a massive influence on Marc Wilmots’s outfit and his absence could be keenly felt in their trip to face Serbia on 
Friday and at home to Scotland on Tuesday.

The news comes just 24 hours after it was revealed that £13 million Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, currently on loan at West Brom, had withdrawn from the squad with an ankle problem.

lThe German referee who oversaw Hearts’ Europa League defeat to Liverpool earlier this season will take charge of Scotland’s crucial World Cup qualifier with Wales on Friday night. Florian Meyer was the man in the middle when the Tynecastle side went down 1-0 to the Reds at home in August courtesy of Scotland defender Andy Webster’s unfortunate own goal.