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Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie withdraws from Scotland squad

Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United celebrates as he scores their third goal from a penalty against Preston
Image: Newcastle's Matt Ritchie has withdrawn from the Scotland squad

Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for the World Cup Qualifiers against Slovakia and Slovenia.

Ritchie played the whole of Newcastle's 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday but they have agreed with the Scotland medical team that he will pull out of the international squad as a precaution.

The 28-year-old is understood to have a slight injury and it has been agreed he will not need to travel for a further check.

Scotland's doctor has accepted Newcastle's request and recommendation for Ritchie to pull out as a precaution.

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Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor has already been called into Gordon Strachan's squad following injuries to club team-mates Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong.

No replacement has so far been named for Ritchie.

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Scotland are fourth in World Cup European Qualifying Group F, six points behind leaders England.

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But back-to-back victories over Lithuania and Malta in September have kept them in contention in the group, with the Scots level on points with Slovenia and just one point behind Slovakia going into the latest round of fixtures.

Watch Scotland v Slovakia on Thursday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event at 6:55pm.

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