Football / 2010 World Cup qualifer: Burley upbeat despite fresh injury blows

GLASGOW: Scotland manager George Burley has yet more injury worries to contend with as his squad prepare to travel to Iceland for their Group 9 World Cup qualifier.
Striker Kenny Miller is a major doubt for today's match after he tweaked his hamstring in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Macedonia.

Veteran defender Graham Alexander also missed training on Monday after picking up a thigh knock.

The pair join an already extensive injury list with David Weir, Kevin Thomson, Kevin McNaughton, Callum Davidson, Garry O'Connor and David Marshall having to withdraw from the squad for the qualification double-header.

The Scotland manager is also without Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton due to long-term injuries.
Burley, under pressure following defeat in his first competitive game in charge, has moved quickly to draft Hibernian's Steven Fletcher into his squad.

Fletcher, who has been capped once before, shone as he scored twice in the under-21s 3-1 victory over Slovenia last week.

There was some good news for the Scotland gaffer with captain Stephen McManus expected to play in Iceland, despite receiving an ankle knock in the Macedonia match, and the return of James Morrison to training.