Steve Clarke issues Kieran Tierney injury update after Scotland star forced off against Morocco | OneFootball

Scotland boss also responds to penalty controversy after pair of non-calls

Steve Clarke has allayed fears of a serious injury to Kieran Tierney after the Scotland full-back was forced off during Friday’s defeat by Morocco.

The Celtic star started at the Boston Stadium as Morocco were powered to a 1-0 win by Ismael Saibari’s early goal.

He went down off the ball early in the second half, though, and was forced off, with Ben Gannon-Doak elected as his replacement.

But speaking at full-time, Clarke confirmed he had not suffered a serious injury, saying instead he was dealing with cramp.

Concerns allayed: Kieran Tierney

Explaining Gannon-Doak’s introduction, he said: “Once he gets in there, you know Ben is going to bring a bit of unpredictability higher up the pitch, a threat that is different. Kieran was terrific, he just cramped up a little bit.”

Clarke would not be drawn, though, when asked about the incidents, simply describing them as fifty-fifties.

“I thought the John McGinn one was a fifty-fifty. I think if the referee had given it, the VAR doesn’t overturn it, so I can only speak on that one a little bit.

John McGinn was denied a penalty after being taken down in the 18-yard box

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“Che Adams, fifty-fifty as well, he had a chance to go through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he goes down, and again the referee chooses yellow and the VAR backs the referee.

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Reflecting on his side’s victory, Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi said: “The end result, we are happy. We wanted three points and we got them. That was the objective.

“I think we were very good the whole match and controlled it. When you don’t score a second time, you have to defend based on their intense style, very long balls. We held very well and we are happy.”