Scotland await Conway news before Tuesday squad announcement

Tommy Conway (right) was forced off against Southampton through injury

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke will announce his World Cup squad on Tuesday - by which time he should know whether Tommy Conway will be fit to be included.

The Middlesbrough striker left the pitch in tears on Tuesday after being forced off injured in his side's 2-1 promotion play-off semi-final defeat by Southampton.

The Championship club have not yet released details of the 23-year-old's injury.

Ross Stewart had equalised just before half-time for Southampton but he and Hull City rival Oli McBurnie will not have another chance to impress Clarke as the Scotland squad will be announced before their final at Wembley on 23 May.

All 48 national associations were asked to submit a provisional squad of up to 55 players to Fifa before finalising their 26-man squad for the finals.

They are not required to make those public, so it is not known whether either Stewart or McBurnie made Scotland's extended list.

It is likely to include current members of the under-21 squad and uncapped players like Stephen Welsh, the 26-year-old centre-half who has impressed on loan to Motherwell from Celtic.

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Former Ross County and Sunderland striker Stewart earned the latest of his two caps in 2022, but he has scored 11 goals in 33 appearances - and five in his latest 10 - for the side who finished fourth in the Championship after a spell of injury issues.

Fellow 29-year-old McBurnie did not add to his 18 goals in 41 appearances but also played his part for sixth-top Hull as he started both legs of their 2-0 aggregate win over third-placed Millwall.

The former Sheffield United and Las Palmas striker recently telephoned Clarke to make a direct plea for a first recall since earning his 16th cap in 2021.

However, Clarke said last month that he was "more or less set in my mind" about the 26 players he intends to take to the finals, although he revealed that two spots might still be up for grabs.

The Scotland head coach is known for his loyalty to players he believes have served him well, but Conway's injury could open up another space.

Scotland host Curacao in a 30 May friendly at Hampden before their final warm-up game against Bolivia on 6 June in Harrison, New Jersey.