Serbia v Scotland: Ryan Fraser & Grant Hanley to miss Euro 2020 play-off

Ryan Fraser scored in Scotland's win over Czech Republic in October

Winger Ryan Fraser and defender Grant Hanley will miss Scotland's Euro 2020 play-off in Serbia through injury.

Fraser has started the past two internationals - wins over Slovakia and the Czech Republic - in attack with Lyndon Dykes.

But he missed Newcastle United's defeat by Southampton on Friday with a hamstring problem.

Hanley was recalled after a two-year absence but has also struggled with a hamstring injury this season.

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The Norwich City captain missed the first three games of the season but returned to action last month.

Assistant coach Steven Reid said: "It's disappointing - Grant has missed a little bit of football and unfortunately is not going to be with us - and Ryan as well.

"He performed really well in the past camp, so that is a blow but we have got strength in depth. We have bigger numbers than usual in the squad and feel as if we have a squad which is capable of competing well."

Scotland need to win Thursday's one-off play-off in Belgrade behind closed doors to reach their first major finals in 22 years and then round off their Nations League campaign in Slovakia and Israel this month.

Head coach Steve Clarke's preparations last month were hit by a positive Covid-19 test for Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong, which also took former Celtic team-mates Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney out of the squad.

Despite other withdrawals through injury and suspension, Scotland still managed a hat-trick of wins, against Israel in the play-off semi-final and over Slovakia and Czech Republic in the Nations League.

"What has been pleasing in the last couple of camps is, despite the injuries and the issues with the Covid situation, the lads that stepped up were first class and that's going to be the same going into all of these games as well," Reid said.

"Going into this game, there's players who have played a lot more games, who are getting up to a bit more match speed. We went into the last couple of camps and still had the issue with pre-seasons and getting up to match tempo, but by now the lads have played a lot of games.

"The squad is still strong and the motivation and the prize at the end of it is hopefully going to take us up to another level of performance."

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Marshall (Derby County); McLaughlin (Rangers); Gordon (Heart of Midlothian).

Defenders: Considine (Aberdeen); Gallagher (Motherwell); McKenna (Nottingham Forest); Cooper (Leeds); O'Donnell (Motherwell); Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday); Robertson (Liverpool); Tierney (Arsenal); Taylor (Celtic).

Midfielders: McTominay (Manchester United); Christie (Celtic); McGregor (Celtic); Armstrong (Southampton); Jack (Rangers); McGinn (Aston Villa); Kenny McLean (Norwich City).

Forwards: Dykes (QPR); Burke (Sheffield United); McBurnie (Sheffield United); Griffiths (Celtic); Paterson (Sheffield Wednesday); Shankland (Dundee United).