Scotland lose Welsh and call up Porteous

Stephen Welsh misses out as Ryan Porteous returns to the Scotland squad [Getty Images] Swansea City centre-back Stephen Welsh has dropped out the Scotland squad for their forthcoming Nations League double-header and been replaced with Los Angeles' Ryan Porteous. Fears that Welsh had sustained serious knee ligament damage, following a challenge from Ebou Adams during Swansea's 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth on Tuesday, appeared to have eased on Thursday. A scan showed the 26-year-old had not suffered a significant problem and Swansea hoped he could even play some part of their game at Birmingham City on Saturday. But the Scottish FA has now announced his withdrawal from their matches at home to North Macedonia on Friday and away to Switzerland on Monday, 16 November. Stewart hoping unlikely path leads back to top Curtis aims to become Rangers and Scotland regular McTominay returns as Penrice earns first Scotland call Welsh has earned all four of his caps since Sebastien Pocognoli was appointed Scotland head coach in the summer. Porteous, 27, last played for Scotland under Steve Clarke in March 2025, coming on as a late substitute to win his 13th cap in a 1-0 Nations League play-off win in Greece. The former Hibernian defender left Watford for Los Angeles last August, having finished the previous season on loan to Preston, and has made 35 appearances this year for the side sitting sixth in the Western Conference and 12th in the overall Major League Soccer (MLS) table. Scotland must take at least four points from their final two group games to have a chance of making the promotion play-offs.