Welsh withdraws from Scotland squad as Porteous earns recall
Stephen Welsh has left the Scotland squad for the Nations League double-header against North Macedonia and Switzerland, with Ryan Porteous called up in his place.
Scotland have lost Swansea City centre-back Stephen Welsh from their squad for the forthcoming Nations League double-header, with Los Angeles defender Ryan Porteous drafted in as his replacement. The Scottish FA confirmed the change after initial concerns over a knee injury Welsh sustained in Swansea's 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
A scan subsequently showed the 26-year-old had not suffered a significant problem, and Swansea had hoped he might even feature in their game at Birmingham City on Saturday. Despite that encouraging assessment, Welsh will not take part in Scotland's home match against North Macedonia on Friday or the trip to Switzerland on Monday, 16 November.
Welsh has won all four of his caps since Sebastien Pocognoli took over as Scotland head coach in the summer. His withdrawal hands a recall to Porteous, the 27-year-old former Hibernian defender who last appeared for Scotland under Steve Clarke in March 2025, coming on late to claim his 13th cap in a 1-0 Nations League play-off win in Greece.
Porteous left Watford for Los Angeles last August after spending the previous season on loan at Preston, and has made 35 appearances this year for a side sitting sixth in the Western Conference and 12th in the overall Major League Soccer table.
Scotland need at least four points from their final two group games to keep alive their chances of reaching the promotion play-offs, making the defensive reshuffle significant for Pocognoli's side.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
