Scotland facing striker issues as injuries mount up for March matches
Adams joins Shankland on doubtful list for Japan and Ivory Coast games
Torino striker Che Adams has emerged as a doubt for Scotland’s friendlies next month against Japan and Ivory Coast.
Adams picked up a calf injury in last weekend’s 2-1 Serie A defeat against Bologna and Il Toro have revealed that the 29-year-old is set to be sidelined for a “period of time”.
“Initial tests revealed Che Adams has picked up a strain on his soleus muscle in his right calf and will be missing for a period of time,” read communication from Torino, who will be without the forward for Sunday’s match away at Genoa.
Adams is Scotland’s main No 9 under head coach Steve Clarke and has been capped 45 times, scoring 11 goals. However, he may have to miss out on the national team’s next fixtures.
Scotland face Japan on Saturday, March 28 at Hampden and then play Ivory Coast at Hill Dickinson Stadium, home of Everton, on Tuesday, March 31. They will act as warm-up fixtures ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Clarke may have to dig into his reserves of strikers given that Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland is also a doubt for the next international break. He suffered a hamstring injury last month and may not be fully recovered until the start of April.
Lyndon Dykes, who is currently on loan at Charlton Athletic from Queens Park Rangers, and Ipswich Town’s George Hirst were the other strikers in the squad last November when Scotland qualified for the World Cup by defeating Denmark.
Other options include Kieron Bowie, who last month made a £6 million switch from Hibs to Hellas Verona, and Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway, who has scored four goals in his last five matches for the Teessiders.
Strikers are not the only area of concern for Clarke. John McGinn is currently sidelined after the Aston Villa had an operation on his knee, while playmaker Ryan Gauld is also recovering from surgery. Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is nursing a tendon issue, although his clubmate Billy Gilmour returned to action for the first time this year in last weekend’s draw with Roma.
Clarke is expected to name his squad for the Japan and Ivory Coast matches in the middle of next month.
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