MX23RW : Thursday, November 17 21:42:18| >> :600:223945:223945:
[monks data]
Nov 12, 2020 at 7.45pm UK at Stadion Rajko Mitić
Serbia
1 - 1
Scotland
Jovic (90')
Milenkovic (11'), Gudelj (49')
FT
(aet)
Christie (52')
Gallagher (44')
Scotland win 5-4 on penalties

Steven Reid hints at Leigh Griffiths Scotland return against Serbia

Steven Reid hints at Leigh Griffiths Scotland return against Serbia
© Reuters
The Celtic striker has not been in any of Steve Clarke's squads before now after struggling with mental health and fitness issues.

Scotland coach Steven Reid saw enough glimpses of quality in Leigh Griffiths's first training session under Steve Clarke to suggest he could be an asset in Serbia.

Griffiths is looking to make his first international appearance since September 2018 when Scotland take on Serbia in a Euro 2020 play-off final on Thursday.

The Celtic striker has not been in any of Clarke's squads before now after struggling with mental health and fitness issues.

But Clarke is prepared to utilise the marksman off the bench in Belgrade if Scotland need a goal and Reid can see why following his first experience of working up close with the striker, who has netted crucial goals against St Johnstone and Aberdeen as a substitute for Celtic in recent weeks.

After Griffiths reported for training on Monday morning, Reid said: "It was a smaller training session but you see glimpses, you see it all the time, those moments of quality that might be needed.

"His finish against Aberdeen took my breath away, the shift and the finish into the top corner.

"That's what he offers, that's what I have seen, that's the quality he has, which has never been in doubt, it's just about the consistency and the amount of minutes he has played and getting back up to match speed. But the quality is there and it was a pleasure to see some of his touches and finishes."

The reintroduction of Griffiths comes as a vacancy for a forward role emerged following confirmation that Ryan Fraser's hamstring injury would rule him out of the squad.

Filip Duricic scored twice against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier
Filip Duricic scored twice against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Serbia have also had selection issues with a positive Covid-19 test ruling out Sassuolo midfielder Filip Duricic, who netted both goals when the teams last met in 2013.

However, four other Italy-based players have joined up with the squad despite reports that coronavirus travel restrictions would rule them out.

Inter Milan defender Aleksandar Kolarov and Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic Savic arrived in Belgrade early on Monday after getting round the rules.

View this post on Instagram

🦅 Миленковић и Влаховић су стигли у Србију! 🇷🇸 Огроман напор Фудбалског савеза Србије се на крају исплатио! После неколико дана велике борбе омогућено је да Никола Миленковић и Душан Влаховић у понедељак касно увече стигну у нашу земљу и придруже се репрезентацији на припремама у Спортском центру ФС Србије, тако да ће већ од уторка бити на располагању селектору Љубиши Тумбаковићу у припреми утамице против Шкотске. 👊🏻 #SrcemSvim #Orlovi #Srbija #FSS #EURO2020 #NationsLeague

A post shared by Football Association of Serbia (@fudbalskisavezsrbije) on

And they were followed by Fiorentina pair Nikola Milenkovic and Dusan Vlahovic late on Monday night.

A statement on the Serbian football association's Instagram account read: "The huge effort of the Football Association of Serbia paid off in the end!

"After a few days of great struggle, it was possible for Nikola Milenkovic and Dusan Vlahovic to arrive in our country late Monday night and join the national team in the preparations at the sports centre of the Serbian Football Federation, so they will be available to coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic in the game against Scotland."

ID:421751: cacheID:421751:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14975:No Data Analysis info
Latest coronavirus PSA
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on November 5, 2020
Read Next:
Steven Gerrard: 'Ryan Jack was subbed off for Scotland cause'
>
rhs 2.0
World Cup fixtures header 3
Sunday, November 20
 
4pm
Monday, November 21
 
1pm
 
7pm
Tuesday, November 22
 
1pm
 
4pm
Wednesday, November 23
 
10am
 
1pm
 
7pm
Thursday, November 24
 
4pm
 
7pm
Friday, November 25
 
10am
 
1pm
 
7pm
Saturday, November 26
 
4pm
Sunday, November 27
 
10am
 
1pm
 
4pm
 
7pm
Monday, November 28
 
10am
Tuesday, November 29
 
3pm
 
7pm
 
7pm
Wednesday, November 30
 
3pm
Thursday, December 1
 
3pm
 
3pm
 
7pm
Friday, December 2
 
3pm
 
7pm
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal14121133112237
2Manchester CityMan City14102240142632
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1586129111830
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs1592431211029
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd148242020026
6Liverpool1464428171122
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton146352319421
8Chelsea146351717021
9Fulham155462426-219
10Brentford154742325-219
11Crystal Palace145451518-319
12Aston Villa155371622-618
13Leicester CityLeicester155282525017
14Bournemouth154471832-1416
15Leeds UnitedLeeds144372226-415
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham154291217-514
17Everton153571117-614
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest153481130-1913
19Southampton153391327-1412
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves15249824-1610

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!