McManus ruled out for Scots

Celtic captain Stephen McManus has lost his battle to be fit in time for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Holland.

The centreback, a first-choice for his country when fit, has been struggling with an ankle injury and had been rated only a 50-50 chance for the match in Amsterdam on Saturday evening.

The Scots remain hopeful he will be available for Wednesday’s group nine match against Iceland at Hampden but he will not travel to Amsterdam, said Steven Pressley, one of manager George Burley’s assistants.

“Stephen did some light running today and was still feeling his ankle,” Pressley reported.

Scotland’s coaching staff have now seen five players pull out of the match against the Dutch since the start of the week with McManus joining his Celtic team-mate Paul Hartley, Rangers defenders David Weir and Kirk Broadfoot and the Derby winger Kris Commons on the sidelines.

There was good news however on Thursday concerning the condition of captain Barry Ferguson, who has been given the green light to play in Amsterdam after recovering sufficiently from bruised ribs.

Pressley said: “Barry Ferguson came through the late running okay and we are confident that he should make Saturday’s game.”

The two upcoming matches are likely to have a huge impact on Scotland’s chances of reaching the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Holland, who top the group with nine points after three wins in their first three matches, look favourites to clinch the automatic qualifying spot with Scotland, second with four points from three matches, battling Iceland, Norway and Macedonia for the play-off slot available to the runners-up.