Scotland striker Kenny Miller has been ruled out of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania and next week's clash with France after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old former Celtic striker sustained the injury prior to his transfer to Derby on Friday.
He was rated as doubtful when Scotland boss Alex McLeish named his squad for the matches and his unavailability for the double-header was confirmed today by a Scottish Football Association spokesman.
Miller's absence leaves Scotland without a mainstay of their team, but they have cover in his position with Craig Beattie, Kris Boyd, James McFadden and Garry O'Connor vying for selection.
After facing Lithuania at Hampden, Scotland travel to Paris to take on France in Group B next Wednesday.
Miller has scored nine times in 32 appearances for Scotland, including the second goal away to Lithuania last September.
The disappointment of his loss is offset by the number of strikers McLeish has at his disposal, with Aston Villa's in-form Shaun Maloney another contender for a forward role.
The SFA also confirmed that Gary Naysmith told the Scotland management team last week he would be unavailable for the two crucial fixtures, leaving Scotland two down from their original 25-man squad.
With the Sheffield United defender ruled out, Derby left-back Jay McEveley could play his first competitive international for Scotland.
McEveley is hoping he made a good enough impression on his Scotland debut to keep his place.
The Liverpool-born 21-year-old won his first senior cap in the 1-0 friendly win over South Africa last month and was among Scotland's brightest performers.
But he is not taking his place in the team for granted, knowing McLeish has other options.
"That's up to the manager to be honest," said McEveley.
"I'm going to work hard in training, and hopefully the game against South Africa sticks in his mind a little bit and he will have the confidence to put me in."
McEveley, who represented England at under-21 level, is glad he switched allegiance to the country of his grandfather's birth.
"I'm made up about being in the squad, that justified my decision (to choose Scotland)," he said.
"I wanted to show that I'm worthy of a place in the squad, although I'm not saying I should be starting.
"I'm still only young, I'm just back in the Premier League with Derby, so I will be happy to help the team from the stand, the bench or from the start."
He was rated as doubtful when Scotland boss Alex McLeish named his squad for the matches and his unavailability for the double-header was confirmed today by a Scottish Football Association spokesman.
Miller's absence leaves Scotland without a mainstay of their team, but they have cover in his position with Craig Beattie, Kris Boyd, James McFadden and Garry O'Connor vying for selection.
After facing Lithuania at Hampden, Scotland travel to Paris to take on France in Group B next Wednesday.
Miller has scored nine times in 32 appearances for Scotland, including the second goal away to Lithuania last September.
The disappointment of his loss is offset by the number of strikers McLeish has at his disposal, with Aston Villa's in-form Shaun Maloney another contender for a forward role.
The SFA also confirmed that Gary Naysmith told the Scotland management team last week he would be unavailable for the two crucial fixtures, leaving Scotland two down from their original 25-man squad.
With the Sheffield United defender ruled out, Derby left-back Jay McEveley could play his first competitive international for Scotland.
McEveley is hoping he made a good enough impression on his Scotland debut to keep his place.
The Liverpool-born 21-year-old won his first senior cap in the 1-0 friendly win over South Africa last month and was among Scotland's brightest performers.
But he is not taking his place in the team for granted, knowing McLeish has other options.
"That's up to the manager to be honest," said McEveley.
"I'm going to work hard in training, and hopefully the game against South Africa sticks in his mind a little bit and he will have the confidence to put me in."
McEveley, who represented England at under-21 level, is glad he switched allegiance to the country of his grandfather's birth.
"I'm made up about being in the squad, that justified my decision (to choose Scotland)," he said.
"I wanted to show that I'm worthy of a place in the squad, although I'm not saying I should be starting.
"I'm still only young, I'm just back in the Premier League with Derby, so I will be happy to help the team from the stand, the bench or from the start."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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