Scotland await Conway news before Tuesday squad deadline

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke will announce his squad for this summer's World Cup on Tuesday, by which time he should know whether Tommy Conway is fit to travel if picked.

The Middlesbrough striker left the pitch in tears on Tuesday evening after being forced off injured in the 73rd minute of his side's 2-1 promotion play-off semi-final defeat by Southampton.

His Championship club have not yet released details of the 23-year-old's injury.

Ross Stewart had equalised just before half-time for Saints.

But he and Hull City rival Oli McBurnie will not have another chance to impress Clarke as the Scotland squad will be announced before their final at Wembley on 23 May.

Stewart's participation in that is uncertain as possible punishment is pending after Southampton were charged by the English Football League of spying on their opponents during training, which they have not denied.

The former Ross County and Sunderland striker earned the latest of his two Scotland caps in 2022, but free from injury problems he has now scored 11 goals in 33 appearances for the side who finished fourth in the Championship, five in his latest 10.

Fellow 29-year-old McBurnie did not add to his 18 goals in 41 appearances but also played his part for sixth-top Hull as he started both legs of their 2-0 aggregate win over third-placed Millwall.

The former Sheffield United and Las Palmas striker recently telephoned Clarke to make a direct plea for a first recall since earning his 16th cap in 2021.

All 48 national associations were asked to submit a provisional squad of up to 55 players to world governing body Fifa before finalising their 26-man squad for the finals.

They are not required to make those public, so it is not known whether either Stewart or McBurnie made Scotland's extended list.

It is likely to include current members of the under-21 squad and uncapped players like Stephen Welsh, the 26-year-old centre-half who has impressed on loan to Motherwell from Celtic.

However, Clarke said last month that he was "more or less set in my mind" about the 26 players he intends to take to the finals, although he revealed that two spots might still be up for grabs.

Clarke is known for his loyalty to players he believes have served him well, but Conway's injury could open up another space.

Scotland host Curacao, who have just reappointed former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat as head coach, in a 30 May friendly at Hampden before their final warm-up game against Bolivia on 6 June in Harrison, New Jersey.