Broken leg robs Scotland of Thomson

Midfielder Kevin Thomson is expected to miss Scotland's first four UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers after breaking his right leg in action for his English club, Middlesbrough FC.

The 25-year-old, signed from Rangers FC this summer, has been ruled out for at least two months after sustaining the injury in a 0-0 draw against Leicester City FC, with a Middlesbrough spokesman explaining: "Kevin fractured the fibula in his right leg and he will visit a specialist on Monday to advise on the best rehabilitation."

Capped three times, most recently in last week's 3-0 friendly defeat by Sweden, Thomson will thus be unavailable for the Group I games against Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic and Spain. Scotland boss Craig Levein is already resigned to being without Sunderland AFC goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Wigan Athletic FC defender Gary Caldwell for the former two fixtures.