McTominay misses training with stomach complaint ahead of Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti

Scott McTominay missed Scotland’s training session at the Atrium Health Training Centre in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday with a stomach complaint, raising a minor concern ahead of the country’s first World Cup fixture since 1998. The Manchester United midfielder is not believed to be a serious doubt for Saturday’s Group C opener against Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

Scott McKenna was also absent from the session, nursing a knock, but the Dinamo Zagreb defender is likewise expected to be fit in time for kick-off. Scotland had already lost midfielder Billy Gilmour to injury before arriving at their World Cup base in North Carolina, though no further significant fitness concerns have emerged.

Steve Clarke’s side face Haiti — appearing at their first World Cup since 1974 — with three points firmly in their sights. The expanded 48-team format offers Scotland a realistic route to the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, but a failure to win the opening game would place immediate pressure on the remaining group fixtures against Morocco and Brazil, both also at Gillette Stadium and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami respectively.

Haiti have their own injury concerns heading into the tournament. Boss Sebastien Migne was forced to call up Colorado Springs Switchbacks defender Garven Metusala as a late replacement for midfielder Leverton Pierre, who sustained a right adductor injury on the eve of the competition. Pierre, a 28-year-old playing in the Portuguese second tier, will miss the entire tournament.

Haiti’s group schedule takes them to Lincoln Financial Field to face Brazil before concluding against Morocco at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

For Scotland, the stakes could hardly be higher. Clarke has guided the nation to their first World Cup in 27 years, and a positive result on Saturday would set the tone for what supporters hope will finally be a run beyond the group stage.