Bruised and battered Scots gather for crucial Euro clash

SIX Scotland players failed to take part in the squad’s first training session yesterday evening ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Lithuania.

Christian Dailly, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster, Barry Ferguson, Kevin Harper and Paul Devlin all remained at the team's hotel for treatment after picking up knocks at the weekend. The rest of Berti Vogts' squad were put through their paces at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium in Dumbarton.

Devlin was already a doubt with a hamstring strain when the squad was named last week and he failed to make Watford's 16-man squad at the weekend but made the trip to Scotland yesterday in the hope he can prove his fitness for Saturday's must-win game.

So far, Leicester striker Paul Dickov is the only player ruled out and the Scottish FA have stressed that those who did not train yesterday could still take part in the game. Vogts' other main doubt is Southampton winger Neil McCann, who twisted his ankle during the defeat against Newcastle, and Saints boss Gordon Strachan has already rated him a "major doubt" for the Lithuania game.

The former Rangers star was receiving treatment at St Mary's yesterday and Vogts will have to wait until today when he joins the rest of the Scotland squad to assess his chances of playing.

Bradford's Andy Gray is set to be drafted into the top team after he was placed on the stand-by list. But the 25-year-old who has played for Vogts' 'Future Squad' is suffering from a minor illness and will join up with the rest of the squad later in the week.

At the moment, Vogts has made no decision on whether to call-up any other stand-by players and had talks with his back-room staff last evening.

The spokesman added: "The team met for the first time at 4pm today some took part in training and some stayed at the hotel to receive treatment.

"Berti will hold a meeting with his backroom staff tonight to discuss the squad and decide whether anyone else should be brought in."

The Scotland boss already had injury woes in the shape of Rangers' Steven Thompson, out for up to six months with a knee problem, and skipper Paul Lambert, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. He now faces a sweat to see who will be available for one of the biggest games of his reign yet as the Scots head into Saturday's game knowing they must win against Lithuania and hope Germany do not lose to Iceland to clinch a play-off spot for Euro 2004.