Scotland dealt injury blow with James Forrest likely to miss Israel match

Steve Clarke has been dealt another blow to his preparations for Scotland’s Nations League play-off semi-final against Israel on Oct 8 with the news that James Forrest will almost certainly have to be ruled out of the squad.

The progress of Celtic and Rangers to the Europa League play-offs had already caused their respective Scottish Premiership games against St Johnstone and Ross County to be pushed back two days to Oct 4, eating into Clark’s build-up plans, and the injury sustained by Forrest in the Hoops’s qualifier with Riga in Latvia is set to deprive the Scots of a likely starter.

“We’re waiting on a scan,” Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, said. “He’s got bone bruising on his ankle which can be very sore, tender and uncomfortable. I haven’t got a definitive answer on him but he’s definitely out for Sunday. It can take a few weeks to settle down. He was in a lot of pain when he came off.”

In Celtic’s home meeting with Hibernian on Sunday, the Edinburgh side face Old Firm opposition for the second time in a week, having deprived Rangers of two points in a 2-2 draw which was arguably the best contest witnessed to date in the current league campaign.

The performance elicited praise from Lennon for Jack Ross, his counterpart at Easter Road.

“He’s done a cracking job and they have recruited well,” he said. “He’s got players who were maybe underperforming previously playing with a bit of confidence and scoring goals, which you expect from a Hibs team.

“When their tails are up, they are a handful for anybody.”

That description could be applied in the singular to Odsonne Edouard, but Celtic’s French striker and most valuable player has looked short of his best in recent outings, prompting speculation that he has his heart set on a move during this transfer window.

“He’s a human being at the end of the day and he’s 22,” Lennon said “We know what a talent he is. He didn’t have the best of games in Riga but he’s a quality player. We don’t want him to go, obviously, and we have had no significant interest in him as yet. There’s always a bit of agitation when the window’s open, but he seems content enough.”

Rangers, meanwhile, meet Motherwell in Sunday's noon televised fixture at Fir Park, where Steven Gerrard hopes to see his players move into a four-point lead before Celtic kick off at 3pm. After their setback against Hibs, Rangers were boosted by their 4-0 win away to Willem II, while Motherwell were also on Europa League business in Israel, losing 3-0 to Hapoel Beer Sheva.

“We’re looking for focus, similar to what we showed on Thursday,” Gerrard said. “We have always had a difficult challenge at Motherwell where Stephen Robinson has his team fired up.”

Gerrard will still have to do without the injured Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe, while Ryan Jack is another who could miss Scotland’s date with Israel.

“It’s very difficult to put a fixed date on Ryan’s return but he has progressed and starting to do stuff outside now,” Gerrard said.

“I hope he is back for us before the international game. If he is back for us and he comes through those games no problem I don’t see why he wouldn’t be available. We need to try and get him back safely and with no problems.”

One bonus for Gerrard has been the recent form of James Tavernier, his captain, who scored his 50th Rangers goal with a penalty conversion against Willem II. “During the coronavirus lockdown the players analysed the seasons they had, individually and collectively,” Gerrard said.

“We had many chats and Zooms to really regroup and refocus on our targets. Tav is looking really strong and he has got those numbers back in his game which is great to see. He is prepared to put himself out there which you want your players to be like.”

In Sunday's other fixture, Aberdeen travel to Ross County.

Kilmarnock moved up to fifth place on Saturday with Nicke Kabamba’s  28th-minute goal clinching a 1-0 win at St Mirren, who are now bottom on goal difference. Livington climbed off the foot of the table after two first-half goals in a minute, from Scott Tiffoney and Alan Forrest, secured a 2-0 win over  St Johnstone. Hamilton earned a first home point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Dundee Utd.