Scott McTominay, Scotland's central midfielder, missed the squad's final training session on Thursday in North Carolina as a precaution following a stomach complaint. The absence is not indicative of a significant injury.
McTominay is widely regarded as Scotland's most influential player. Five days earlier, he delivered a strong performance in the team's 4-0 friendly victory over Bolivia. Teammate Kenny McLean emphasized his importance: "I'm sure everyone has fingers crossed that Scott will be fine. Everyone knows what he brings. It's quite apparent how big a player he is for us."
Other defensive options face challenges. Centre-back Scott McKenna sustained a knock with restricted training minutes. Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley are the favoured options for the centre-back pairing against Haiti.
McTominay's absence would significantly impact Scotland's midfield stability and possession control. Without him, Haiti would have greater scope for pressing and counter-attacks, a variable affecting total goals and margin forecasts in the opening fixture.
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