Ross Stewart hands Scotland Euro 2024 injury boost as Southampton striker closes in on comeback

Scotland have been handed a boost ahead of Euro 2024 with Southampton striker Ross Stewart edging closer to a return to action.

Despite carrying an achilles tendon injury, the 27-year-old joined the Saints on deadline day last summer for £8million after a successful two year spell with Sunderland, and eventually made his debut in November. However, Stewart then suffered a serious muscle injury at the end of November.

It was feared that the Scotland international would be out for the remainder of the campaign, dealing Southampton a cruel blow in their bid to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. But speaking to the media ahead of their clash with Stoke City tomorrow, St Mary's boss and former Scotland and Rangers defender Russell Martin has revealed that Stewart is in line for a return against Leeds United in their final Championship fixture next weekend.

He said: "Yeah, all being well, Ross will be on the bench next week against Leeds. Hopefully, fingers crossed, he's come through training really nicely. He'll have a big session in the morning and then have Sunday to recover. He will then be fully with the squad next week. So, all being well, we look forward to having Ross in the squad."

Ex-St Mirren and Ross County forward Stewart has two senior caps to his name, which both came back in 2022. If the striker can return to fitness in the closing weeks of the season, he will hope to battle it out with Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland, Jacob Brown and Southampton teammate Che Adams for a place in Steve Clarke's squad for the finals in Germany.

Clarke has however been ravaged with injury woes in other areas of the pitch going into the tournament, with Bologna star Lewis Ferguson ruled out of