Scotland's qualifying hopes were given a lift when Glasgow Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson was yesterday declared fit enough to Captain Scotland in Saturday's must-win World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park against Belarus, and against Slovenia on Wednesday.

The Rangers midfielder was forced to miss last weekend's Scottish Premier League game against Dunfermline with a hamstring injury, raising doubts about the 27-year-old's fitness for Saturday's crunch World Cup qualifying game.

With their two vital World Cup qualifying matches coming up, Scotland’s Coach Walter Smith has had two players ruled out through injury from the squad that he originally named for Scotland’s World Cup Group 4 qualifiers, against Belarus on Saturday, and Slovenia next Wednesday.

Glasgow Rangers striker Steven Thompson and defender Russell Anderson from Aberdeen are both ruled out through injury, and there are no plans to bring in any replacements, the Scottish FA have said.

Wigan Athletic’s Lee McCulloch is today having a pain killing injection to help deal with a knee injury that he is nursing, to help him compete in the match.

The Scotland team have been buoyed by their recent results against Italy and Norway in their qualifiers last month, and will hope to carry the momentum on to their next home match against Belarus.

But Smith, the former Everton and Glasgow Rangers boss knows that the Scots must win both their games, against Belarus and Slovenia, and hope Norway drop points in their matches against to have any chance of reaching the play-offs next month.

Smith said, “The win in Norway was great for the feeling in the squad but, more importantly, it kept us going in the section.”

“Going into the last couple of matches, we have an opportunity to, at least, put pressure on Norway who are favourites to get the play-off position”. “Hopefully, we can manage to do that by winning our last two games - at least finish the section on a high.”

'We cannot take the games separately, we have to win against Belarus and Slovenia.'

The Scotland boss is confident that Wolves striker Kenny Miller to continue his fine goalscoring form on Saturday.

Miller will equal ex-Rangers striker Colin Stein's 36-year record of scoring in four successive Scotland internationals if he manages to get on the score-sheet against Belarus.

Smith added: “Kenny has played as a lone striker for us and has managed to get his goals”.

“Obviously, from a purely Scottish perspective, we hope he continues to get the goals.”

Revised Scotland squad (team to be chosen from):

Goalkeepers:
Ryan Esson (Aberdeen), Craig Gordon (Hearts), David Marshall (Celtic)

Defenders:
Graham Alexander (Preston), Gary Caldwell (Hibernian), Steven Caldwell (Sunderland), Christian Dailly (West Ham United), Steven Pressley (Hearts), Andy Webster (Hearts), David Weir (Everton)

Midfielders:
Callum Davidson (Preston), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Hearts), Neil McCann (Southampton), Lee McCulloch (Wigan Athletic), Ian Murray (Rangers), Nigel Quashie (Southampton FC)

Strikers:
Craig Beattie (Celtic), James McFadden (Everton FC), Shaun Maloney (Celtic), Kenny Miller (Wolves), Garry O'Connor (Hibernian).