Maloney out of Scotland squad for Japan

Celtic’s Shaun Maloney has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for Saturday’s friendly international in Japan, further weakening George Burley’s injury-ravaged squad.

Midfielder Maloney has been replaced by Dundee United’s Scott Robertson while uncapped Hearts defender Lee Wallace and Aberdeen striker Lee Miller have also been added to the squad.

The reinforcements came following the loss on Monday of Celtic defender Danny Fox, Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson, Birmingham striker Garry O’Connor and Leeds winger Robert Snodgrass.

Burley is also sweating over the availability of first-choice midfielder Scott Brown. The Celtic star was seeing a specialist on Tuesday to assess whether he can carry on playing with a niggling ankle problem.

A number of other players are also carrying injuries and Tuesday’s opening training session ahead of the trip to Japan involved only ten of Burley’s squad.