Craig Levein admits it will take a "miraculous" recovery from Allan McGregor for him to consider the goalkeeper for Scotland's opening two World Cup qualifiers.
McGregor is Levein's first-choice goalkeeper, but he suffered a groin injury in the country's recent friendly win over Australia. It had been hoped the Besiktas stopper would make a recovery in time for Scotland's opening two qualifiers against Serbia and Macedonia on September 8 and 11, but that now appears highly unlikely.
"One of (David) Marshall or (Matt) Gilks will play in the opening two games unless Allan makes a miraculous recovery," said Levein, who was speaking at the Vauxhall Road to Brazil 2014 media conference in London.
"I spoke to Allan this morning. There has been some improvement in his condition. If you asked me last week whether he would have been involved, I would have said yes, but now I am unsure."
Levein insists he will not call up former number one Craig Gordon until he finds a new club.
Gordon was released by Sunderland this summer after an injury-plagued spell at the Stadium of Light, but he has been assured that he will feature in Levein's plans once he finds himself a new club.
"I think it would be very difficult for him to come in and play without having a club, but once he gets himself a club and gets back in training and gets some game time under his belt then he will be in the squad," Levein added.
"He has had a little niggle that he is trying to recover from. He is now looking for a club.
"I expect, maybe come October, for the second round of games, there is a possibility (he will get called up)."
Source: PA
