Scottish Gossip: McLeish on Tierney withdrawal, Celtic target Welsh full-back and Scotland rugby

Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Scotland manager Alex McLeish says Celtic defender Kieran Tierney's tight hamstring - which has forced him to pull out of the Albania game-was in part due to playing against Livingston on an Astroturf pitch last weekend. Tierney was the ninth player to withdraw from the squad for the Nations League double header.(Daily Mail)

Albania's most capped international Lorik Cana will miss tonight's game because he is travelling to Rome for an audience with the Pope, but insists his countrymen will be playing for the win in front of their own fans. (The Herald)

Scotland captain Andy Robertson says that the players who have withdrawn from the squad are "devastated" at missing out against Albania and Israel. (Sunexternal-link)

Former Manchester United, Leeds and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen wants the Scottish FA to act tough and prevent players who have withdrawn from playing for their clubs at the weekend. (Sunexternal-link)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is keen on Swansea City right-back Connor Roberts, who has seven caps for Wales. (Daily Express)

Australian agent Lou Sticca says he will offer Celtic captain Scott Brown a lucrative contract to move to the A-League and tipped him to replicate the impact Wayne Rooney has made in America. (Daily Recordexternal-link)

Hearts captain Christophe Berra says his spell on the sidelines recovering from injury provided a glimpse of what life will be like when he eventually retires from the game - and hardened his desire to keep playing for as long as he can. (Daily Recordexternal-link)

Scotland rugby captain Greig Laidlaw has vowed that the team will fight 'fire with fire' and attack South Africa at Murrayfield. (Daily Mail)

Former Scotland international Tony Stanger has swapped the oval ball for football as he helps coach his two sons, who play for Hamilton Accies under-19s and Stirling Albion's junior academy. (The Scotsmanexternal-link)