International Under-21 friendly: Belgium v Scotland
Venue: Burgemeester Van de Wielestadion, Deinze Date: Thursday 24 March Kick-off: 1900 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website

Wylde had been nursing a hamstring injury after Sunday's cup final

Rangers winger Gregg Wylde has officially withdrawn from the Scotland Under-21 squad to face Belgium.

Wylde was nursing a hamstring injury after his club's victory in Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final.

Club-mate Jamie Ness, fellow midfielder Nick Ross, of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and Motherwell defender Steven Saunders had pulled out on Tuesday.

So Rangers defender Darren Cole and St Mirren midfielder Kenny McLean were drafted into the squad.

While Cole and Ness were not even on the bench for Rangers on Sunday, Wylde lasted the full 120 minutes of their club's extra-time victory over Celtic but is now out of Billy Stark's squad.

The match against Belgium at Burgemeester Van de Wielestadion is a second chance for Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes to be handed his first Scotland honour.

Rhodes, who was born in Oldham, qualifies for the Scots because of his schooling while his father, Andy, was a goalkeeper with Dunfermline Athletic, St Johnstone and Airdrie.

He was called up for the first time by Stark in November but was immediately withdrawn because Huddersfield manager Lee Clark wanted him available for a FA Cup replay against Cambridge United.

Stark takes a strong squad to Deinze, with most now playing first-team football for their clubs, although some have had to go out on loan to find it.

Rangers defender Ross Perry is with Falkirk, from where goalkeeper Michael Andrews has been farmed out to neighbours East Stirlingshire.

However, Burnley forward Alex MacDonald has mainly found himself on the bench with Inverness Caley Thistle.

Scotland Under-21 squad

Goalkeepers: Grant Adam (Rangers), Michael Andrews (Falkirk)
Defenders: Callum Booth (Hibernian), Darren Cole (Rangers), Paul Hanlon (Hibernian), Ross Perry (Rangers), Craig Thomson (Hearts)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United), Tom Cairney (Hull City), James Forrest (Celtic), Liam Kelly (Kilmarnock), Kenny McLean (St Mirren), Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday), David Wotherspoon (Hibernian)
Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Alex MacDonald (Burnley), Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town), Johnny Russell (Dundee United)

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version