Fletcher and Hutton out for Scots

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher and Tottenham fullback Alan Hutton have become the latest players to pull out of Scotland’s trip to Japan, taking to ten the number of withdrawals since manager George Burley announced his squad last week.

The duo, who withdrew just hours before the squad was due to fly to Tokyo ahead of Saturday’s friendly in Yokohama, have been replaced by Norwich’s Stephen Hughes and Don Cowie of Watford.

The loss of Fletcher, who has captained Scotland in recent internationals, and Hutton follows call-offs by Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney, Danny Fox, Kevin Thomson, Steven Naismith, Robert Snodgrass and Garry O’Connor.

Scott Robertson of Dundee United was brought into the squad earlier this week but he too succumbed to injury and will not make the trip.

With the likes of Birmingham winger James McFadden and Rangers striker Kenny Miller having been ruled out by injury before the squad was announced, the result is that Burley will be obliged to field a second-string, experimental line-up against Japan, for whom the friendly is part of their preparations to next year’s World Cup.