Scotland manager Steve Clarke has dropped a strong hint that Ryan Jack, arguably Scotland’s most in-form midfielder right now, was in line to start against Russia on Friday but due to his troubling knee injury he agreed to sit on the bench.

The midfield dynamo is in excellent fettle this season, having truly found his home at Ibrox, and it earned him a call up for the double header with Russia and Belgium, but the ex-Killie boss turned national coach confirmed that due to Jack’s issues with his knee, it was better for him to remain sidelined.

He said:

“Ryan has gone back to Rangers. He had a little bit of swelling on his knee on Friday and was prepared to sit on the bench.”

The use of ‘prepared’ strongly implies Jack would have started this match, inferring that he didn’t really want to be on the bench but the injury dictated it.

In the end McGinn, McTominay and McGregor made up Scotland’s three-man midfield and Jack’s injury meant he wasn’t even in contention to come on as a sub.

He has been sent home after the swelling on his knee worsened on Saturday and will recuperate back at Auchenhowie.

Naturally it goes without saying we deeply hope this isn’t serious.