Scotland boss George Burley admits he is devastated to see Alan Hutton ruled out for five months.
The Tottenham defender has suffered a recurrence of a fracture in his right foot and is now likely to miss the majority of the season, including Scotland’s World Cup qualifier in Holland in Match.
And, with Scotland having taken just four points from their opening three games in their group, Burley admits it is a major setback for all involved.
“This is obviously very bad news for Alan, his club and for Scotland,” he said.
“When he was coming back from the injury the last time, we kept in touch with him throughout his rehabilitation and it was great to have him back for the Argentina match.
“It’s a massive blow for us that he looks like he will need an operation. He’s a big player for us and we wish him a speedy recovery.”