BY DARREN JOHNSTONE – Capital City Press
Scotland forward Shaun Maloney faces a race against time to be fit for the final two Euro 2016 qualifying matches after tests confirmed that he has torn his hamstring.
The experienced Hull City playmaker suffered the problem in last Monday’s agonising 3-2 defeat to world champions Germany at Hampden and was replaced by Ikechi Anya on the hour mark.
Hull manager Steven Bruce said: “We’ve got a problem with Maloney because he nicked a hamstring away with Scotland. I think Shaun will probably be out for around two or three weeks.”
The injury is a big set-back to the 32-year-old after he had hoped to hit the ground running at the English Championship outfit following his move from MLS outfit Chicago Fire at the tail end of August.
Maloney’s spell on the sidelines will also concern national team manager Gordon Strachan, who has seen the attacker net four goals so far during the campaign, ahead of the penultimate Group D clash at home to Poland on October 8.
Scotland take on Gibraltar three days later and need to win both games to have any chance of securing a play-off place.
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