Croatia vs Scotland: UEFA Nations League – BBC Sport

Celtic winger James Forrest will miss Scotland's game in Croatia through injury as Steve Clarke's side look to pick up their first points of the new Nations League season.

Forrest stayed behind in Glasgow as the team traveled to Zagreb for Saturday's League A game against the 2018 World Cup finalists.

His injury will be assessed by Celtic, who will decide whether he remains in the squad for Tuesday's game against Portugal.

Forrest is the latest player unavailable for Clarke, with Angus Gunn, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn, Scott McKenna, Jack Henry and Tommy Conway already ruled out for the double-header.

Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson and Lewis Ferguson have been absent for a long time and missed Euro 2024 due to injury.

Defeat to Portugal in their last Nations League game – following their opening defeat to Poland – means Scotland are winless in their last eight competitive games and have won just one of their last 14.

However, Clarke insists the team is in good spirits and believes they can challenge the country who finished second and then third at the last two World Cups.

“Of course we can keep up. If we didn’t think we could compete, we would have stayed home,” Clarke said.

“We are here to compete, we are here to – hopefully – get a win or at least a point.”

“The injuries are visible to everyone, so I don't think there's too much point in talking about the injuries. It’s better to focus on the guys who are here.”

Croatia will be without Mateo Kovacic, but the Manchester City midfielder could return against Poland.