Scott McKenna
Dinamo ZagrebCB
Controlled Centre Back
Nov 12, 1996 (29)
Left
6'2"
163 lb
Returns to training
McKenna (calf) has returned to training with the Scotland squad ahead of Friday's World Cup clash against Morocco, according to Sky Sports Scotland.
Analysis: McKenna missed Saturday's opening victory over Haiti with the calf issue, making his return to the training pitch a significant development for Scotland heading into their second group stage fixture. His availability for Friday's clash gives coach Steve Clarke an important defensive option to call upon as the Tartan Army look to build on their winning start to the tournament.
Out for opener
McKenna (calf) is out for Saturday's opener against Haiti, according to manager Steve Clarke, per Alan Pattullo of The Scotsman. "We won't take any chances with him."
Analysis: McKenna will not be fit in time for the opener after dealing with a calf injury, as the defender will instead sit out and not be risked. This appears to be a cautious approach, as Scotland will be favored to beat Haiti and likely didn't find it necessary to risk him. He will then look to get back into training next week, hopefully returning to face Morocco on June 19.
Training minutes managed
McKenna (undisclosed) has had his training minutes carefully managed due to a knock, according to Ewan Murray of The Guardian.
Analysis: McKenna's limited training involvement means he is unlikely to feature from the start in what is Scotland's first World Cup match in 28 years, with the coaching staff taking a cautious approach to his workload to avoid any unnecessary risk. His availability for later fixtures in the tournament will depend on how his condition responds over the coming days. Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley are emerging as the favorites to start at center-back against Haiti.
Dealing with discomfort
McKenna (undisclosed) has not participated in any Scotland training sessions this week and was again absent when the squad returned to work on Wednesday, though the issue is understood not to be serious, according to Jane Lewis of BBC.
Analysis: McKenna's continued absence from collective sessions is a minor concern heading into Scotland's World Cup campaign, but the reassuring nature of the update suggests the Dinamo Zagreb center-back should be available for the tournament without any significant delay. The coaching staff will monitor his condition over the coming days before providing any further clarity on his availability for the opener.
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