Scotland rocked by Ryan Jack injury blow as Luton Town midfielder called up - plus Nathan Patterson injury update

Scotland’s World Cup playoff hopes have suffered a dent after Ryan Jack was ruled out of Wednesday night’s play-off semi-final against Ukraine due to injury.

The midfielder scored one of Rangers’ two Scottish Cup winning goals in the win over Hearts last weekend.

However, an ankle problem means the 30-year-old will miss out in midweek as Steve Clarke's side bid to secure a play-off final place against Wales. Jack is expected to be sidelined for all of Scotland's June fixtures.

Clarke has opted to bring in the uncapped Allan Campbell as cover. The former Motherwell midfielder has enjoyed a productive season with Luton Town, who were denied a place in this weekend's Championship playoff final after a narrow semi-final defeat to Huddersfield Town.

It is the latest cruel blow for Jack, who missed last summer’s European Championship finals as well as the first half of the new season due to a calf injury.

He returned in time to help Rangers reach the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt and came on as substitute to play a significant role as the Ibrox side lifted the Scottish Cup four days later.

Meanwhile, Clarke is determined to give Jack’s former Ibrox teammate Nathan Patterson every chance to feature against Ukraine.

The manager is preparing to make a judgment call on the wing-back’s physical condition after assessing him in training.

The 20-year-old last played a top-level game in March when he started Scotland’s 2-2 friendly draw with Austria.

He has been instrumental in Scotland's recent good run and would be expected to be a certain starter.

But he has struggled to break into the Everton side after making a £12 million switch from Rangers in January and then was sidelined by injury as he prepared to make his