Scotland's preparations for their World Cup opener against Haiti have seen key midfielder Scott McTominay travel to Boston separately from his teammates. The Napoli player, who has been a pivotal figure for the Scots in recent campaigns, made the journey accompanied by a doctor. This arrangement is understood to be a precautionary measure following an upset stomach that led him to miss Thursday's training session.
The move underscores the team's efforts to maintain the health of the squad, particularly ahead of a major tournament. Preventing the spread of any potential illness within the camp is crucial for national teams, especially given the close living and training environments. Fellow midfielder Kenny McLean expressed hope that the issue would not spread and anticipated McTominay's swift recovery, highlighting his importance to the team.
Scotland is set to begin their first World Cup campaign in 28 years when they face Haiti on Saturday evening (Sunday 02:00 BST) at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Following this, Steve Clarke's side will also compete against Morocco and Brazil in the group stage. McTominay's presence is highly valued, having netted 15 goals across 70 international caps, including a recent strike in Scotland's 4-0 victory over Bolivia.
The situation has naturally caused some anxiety among Scotland fans, many of whom have travelled in significant numbers to Boston to support their team. An update from manager Steve Clarke is anticipated on Friday, where he is expected to address the media and provide further details on McTominay's condition and availability for the crucial opening match. The focus remains on ensuring the squad is at full strength for what promises to be a challenging group stage.