You have to hope that Kieran Tierney having to pull out of the Scotland game this afternoon against Kazakhstan is more of a precaution than anything else.

Tierney strikes you as the kind of boy who would want to play regardless so you just hope that someone has had a look at that plastic pitch and decided that it is best not to risk his pelvic issue on it.

And while Celtic might think that it would have been better had he just gone straight to the San Marino game, it is better that he is withdrawn from the game than playing in it and aggravating any possible strain.

However, while it is obviously a blow for Tierney, you have to think that Callum McGregor will be feeling pretty pleased with himself.

It wasn’t too long ago that McGregor was still knocking at the door of the Scotland team so to be taken the armband for the night will be a massive honour for him, I’m sure.

It just shoes you how much he has developed in recent seasons where he has become a really pivotal player for both club and country.

It is no less than he deserves and it will be a big afternoon for the lad today.

He’ll be hoping to play his part in getting Scotland off to a solid start in the qualifying group.

These can be the games that set the tone for the group and process of qualifying and the last thing you want to do is find yourself looking at a damp squib to kick it off.

There was some encouragement with the Nations League performances and the aim over these next two games has to be to build on that as we look to get back to a major tournament.