MX23RW : Tuesday, March 18 11:08:29| >> :600:204703:204703:

Steve Bruce fires warning over possible Ryan Fraser selection for Euro 2020

Steve Bruce fires warning over possible Ryan Fraser selection for Euro 2020
© Reuters
The 27-year-old midfielder has not played since March's World Cup qualifiers due to a groin injury.

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce has warned that it would be a "gamble" for Scotland to take midfielder Ryan Fraser to Euro 2020.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke is due to name his squad for the rescheduled tournament on Wednesday with the Magpies winger having not kicked a ball in anger since March because of a groin injury.

Asked about Fraser's fitness on Tuesday, Bruce said: "It has been a difficult time for him. He does desperately need a pre-season, pre-season is huge for him.

"Whether he's going to be picked in the Scotland squad, I would think that would be a gamble too since he's missed the last six, seven weeks playing no real football or training.

"With the problems Scotland have got and 26 players, I don't know, but it's certainly a gamble. But pre-season is key to him because he didn't have a pre-season the season before, last year's was a non-entity really in terms of pre-season, so he's got a big summer ahead of him."

Fraser has not played since scoring for his country in World Cup qualifiers against Israel and the Faroe Islands in March.

The 27-year-old, who joined Newcastle from Bournemouth last summer, has endured a frustrating first campaign on Tyneside. He has made 22 appearances in all competitions, 10 of them as a substitute, and scoring one goal on his debut, a Carabao Cup second-round winner against Blackburn in September.

Former Magpies assistant manager Clarke has already lost Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack and Norwich counterpart Kenny McLean to injury ahead of the finals.

ID:448010: cacheID:448010:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2869:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Scotland manager Steve Clarke pictured on November 15, 2020
Read Next:
The leading contenders for a place in Scotland's Euros squad
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!