McTominay a doubt for Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti with stomach illness

Scott McTominay is a doubt for Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti after the Napoli midfielder was kept separate from the rest of Steve Clarke’s squad due to an upset stomach.

McTominay missed training on Thursday at Scotland’s base in Charlotte and was not on the team bus as the squad arrived at a hotel in Boston ahead of Saturday’s fixture at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. As a precautionary measure, the 29-year-old was accompanied by a doctor, with Clarke keen to prevent the illness spreading through his squad.

McTominay is considered a key figure in Scotland’s bid to progress from a group that also includes Brazil and Morocco, as the nation returns to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

Fellow midfielder Kenny McLean expressed confidence that McTominay would recover in time. “Hopefully that doesn’t spread,” McLean said. “Fingers crossed Scott will be fine. I’m sure he will be. I don’t need to speak too much on him, everyone knows how big he is. It’s a team effort and always will be, but when you have special, special players like that you want them to be available. I’m sure he will be.”

Injured midfielder Billy Gilmour has also travelled to Boston to support the squad, having seen his World Cup hopes ended by an injury sustained in the warm-up fixture against Curacao. McLean paid tribute to the young midfielder’s character. “He obviously wants to experience things around the lads and also in and around the city with the fans and soak in the atmosphere. He deserves so much more but there is going to be so much more opportunity for Billy. What an amazing talent, what an amazing young man and it will be good to see him.”