Scotland call up Langfield as keeper cover

Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield has been drafted into Scotland’s squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and the Netherlands as cover for injured Rangers counterpart Neil Alexander.

Alexander, Scotland’s third-choice goalkeeper, suffered a knock in training and has been ruled out of Saturday’s meeting with Macedonia at Hampden.

He will be reassessed on Sunday before a decision is made on whether he remains with the squad for the meeting with the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Scotland manager George Burley has indicated that Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon will start the Macedonia match with Cardiff City’s David Marshall expected to be on the bench.

Scotland must win both of their last two matches to have a chance of clinching second place in group nine and a place in the play-offs for next year’s finals in South Africa. The Netherlands have already won the group.