Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay will miss Scotland's crunch clash with Ukraine on Tuesday evening after picking up his second yellow card of their Nations League campaign during their 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
The Reds academy graduate, who played a key role in helping Steve Clarke's side seal a priceless victory, was cautioned in the 87th minute after clashing in a melee with Derby County midfielder Jason Knight. It means that he will be suspended for the trip to Poland to face Ukraine in their final Group B1 fixture.
Scotland will require just a point against Ukraine to seal promotion to League A. The two sides met as recently as Wednesday at Hampden Park and the Scots ran out 3-0 winners.
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While the absence of McTominay will be a huge loss for Scotland on Tuesday night, United can rest a little easier knowing that he will not be at risk of picking up an injury on Tuesday night ahead of next Sunday's derby against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The 25-year-old has established himself as a key figure in United manager Erik ten Hag's plans so far this season, starting all but one of their opening six Premier League matches. He has kept summer signing Casemiro out of the team, striking up a promising partnership with Christian Eriksen in the engine room.
His performances in recent weeks have been measured and controlled, meaning the defensive-midfield berth, currently, is his to lose. Casemiro has only started once since arriving from Real Madrid and that was when Ten Hag chose to rotate for the Europa League clash with Real Sociedad earlier this month.
Although McTominay is now less at risk of sustaining an injury in the run-up to next weekend's derby, he will be walking a disciplinary tightrope against City, should he be selected by Ten Hag. He has already picked up four bookings in the Premier League this season and a fifth will result in him receiving a one-match ban.
Should he be yellow carded against City, the Scot will be suspended for the trip to Everton the following weekend. Fellow United duo Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire are also not too far away from a potential ban, each of finding themselves on three cautions each so far this season.
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