Having already lost first- choice right-back Alan Hutton to injury, Scotland yesterday discovered Hutton's probable replacement, Phil Bardsley, is also out of Friday night's European Championship qualifier against Ireland at Parkhead.

Bardsley strained his groin in Stoke City's 2-1 victory at Tottenham on Sunday and that led to Scotland manager Gordon Strachan calling up Hearts' 20-year-old Callum Paterson yesterday morning.

It means that Strachan is expected to select Norwich City's Steven Whittaker at right-back on Friday, where he is likely to be up against James McClean.

Mark McGhee, Strachan’s assistant, did suggest that Russell Martin, also from Norwich, could move from centre-half to full-back, but that would disrupt Martin’s central partnership with Grant Hanley.

Whittaker (30) has 26 caps and played against Germany at left-back. He should have the experience to cope with Friday, and while that situation is not ideal for Strachan, there was no trace of panic when young Paterson arrived at Scotland’s idyllic base on the River Clyde north of Glasgow yesterday morning.

Manager’s eye

“We wouldn’t expect that the boy Paterson needs to play,” said McGhee, “but he can get himself in the manager’s eye. Russell Martin has played right-back often, so there’s a couple of options.”

McGhee described Friday’s game as “the most important of our tenure”, although he then downplayed the notion that this is the group’s pivotal fixture for both countries.

“There’s been a lot of positive feedback [in Scotland],” McGhee said, “but all we’ve achieved so far is the minimum – beat Georgia at home, got point in Poland, lost to Germany. On the other hand, Ireland have a point more than would have been expected, and they’ve beaten Georgia away from home. We’ve it all to prove really.”

The numerous connections between those involved have increased the appetite for Friday and McGhee was happy to return to 1997 when he was Wolves manager and Robbie Keane was a teenager.

“Yeah, I gave Robbie his debut,” McGhee said. “He was sensational and he’s had a sensational career. I remember the day he made his debut at Norwich at 17. His mum and dad were there and my son still talks about the emotion in the directors’ box, they were crying when Robbie scored his two goals. Fantastic lad, fantastic player.

“He was playing against men and one of the things that has impressed me over the years is that he has become a man. He was a Jack-the-lad wee Irish boy, tricky. Now he’s quite a serious individual, captain of his country.”

Another overlap will see Steven Fletcher play up front for Scotland against John O'Shea, his Sunderland team-mate, and against Martin O'Neill, the man who signed Fletcher for Sunderland.

Good battle

“I’m good friends with John,” Fletcher said. “We go at each other week in, week out, in training, so it should be good. He doesn’t kick me – he can’t get near me.

“We’ve had a bit of banter about that. I told him to stay away from my ankles last week. That goal he scored against Germany was a bit of a sickener for us. It was obviously a great night for him, 100 caps and to score the late goal.

“I did congratulate him the next day – through gritted teeth. ‘Aye, well done Sheasy!’ I still don’t know what he was doing that far up the pitch. But it wasn’t a bad finish. I would be happy with that.”

In 17 internationals Fletcher has just one Scotland goal, and his caps have been interrupted by a dispute with previous Scotland manager Craig Levein.

Fletcher has said that he sought guidance from O’Neill during his difficult relationship with Levein and yesterday Fletcher was keen to re-state his admiration.

Great relationship

“I actually only worked with him – as in games played – for a few months before I got injured. But he was brilliant for me. I had a great relationship with him.

“The thing about Martin is that he gives you a lot of confidence. I had a great start for him at Sunderland and that was partly down to the way he dealt with me. He’s always pulling players aside for little chats. The fact that he spent that much money on me meant he obviously had faith in me. I was keen to repay him.”

Fletcher’s goalscoring record for Scotland may look pale but in his last five games for Sunderland, Fletcher has four goals. He is running into form.