The Manchester United midfielder, who has missed his club's entire pre-season and not played competitively since November, will train with Craig Levein's Scotland squad this week but will not feature at Easter Road in Edinburgh.

Levein, who will be relying on Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam to pull the strings in midfield in Fletcher's absence, said he is confident the 28-year-old can make a full recovery and return to football.

"He is not in the squad because he has not played for Manchester United but he will come back and do a bit of training with us," Levein said.

"I have been in touch with him every two or three weeks throughout the summer.

"I don't want to go into the medical side of things but I'm just delighted to say that he is going to do some training with us.

"We will see how he gets on between now and September and I think you'll guess that if he is fit he will be in the team."

Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan could partner Adam in the middle of the park, while stalwart Gary Caldwell of Wigan will most likely lead the defence.

Former Rangers striker Steven Naismith, fresh from his move to Premier League club Everton, shapes as one of the Scots' biggest threats up front.

Levein indicated that some of his omissions were influenced by Rangers now playing in the third-tier of Scottish football, with defender Lee Wallace one of many regulars from the Ibrox club to miss out on selection.

"The best scenario is for players to be playing at the top level to play international football it makes it so much easier to step from one to the other," Levein said.

"It is very difficult for anyone playing in the third division in Scotland to be up to the speed of an international match.

"No way am I closing the door at all I just think it is more difficult for Lee to get in now than it was previously."

Scotland squad to face Australia: Allan McGregor (Besiktas), Matt Gilks (Blackpool), David Marshall (Cardiff); Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Phil Bardsley (Sunderland), Christophe Berra (Wolves), Gary Caldwell (Wigan), Daniel Fox (Southampton), Grant Hanley (Blackburn), Russell Martin (Norwich), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Andy Webster (Hearts), Charlie Adam (Liverpool), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa), Don Cowie (Cardiff), Graham Dorrans (West Brom), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Wigan), James Morrison (West Brom), Robert Snodgrass (Norwich), Matt Phillips (Blackpool), Jamie Mackie (QPR), Steven Naismith (Everton), Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield).