McTominay makes solo trip to Boston after stomach upset before World Cup opener

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay missed team training in Boston due to illness but will join the squad for their World Cup debut against Haiti.

Scotland midfielder's delayed arrival Scotland's key midfielder Scott McTominay did not travel with his teammates to Boston as scheduled because he missed Thursday's training session after suffering from a stomach bug. He made the journey separately with medical staff, reportedly as a precaution. The Napoli player has been a standout performer for the Scottish national team in recent tournaments. His absence from the team session raised concerns before their World Cup campaign begins. ## Scotland's World Cup campaign kicks off Steve Clarke's squad will begin their first World Cup appearance in 28 years when they face Haiti on Saturday evening local time at Foxborough's Boston Stadium. The group-stage clash will take place at 23:00 EDT on Saturday, which is 02:00 BST on Sunday. Scotland will also face Morocco and Brazil in the opening group phase of the tournament. The Scots are among the underdogs in a tough group that includes two of the most decorated football nations. ## McTominay's World Cup preparation McTominay has contributed 15 goals in 70 international appearances for Scotland. He scored in the team's dominant 4-0 victory over Bolivia last weekend. His presence in the midfield has been crucial for the national side in recent years. Fans traveling to Boston in large numbers are hoping for positive news about his fitness before the first match. ## Teammate's confidence in McTominay's fitness Kenny McLean, another Scotland midfielder, expressed optimism about McTominay's condition during Thursday's media session. He said, 'Hopefully that doesn't spread. Fingers crossed Scott will be fine. I'm sure he will be.' McLean avoided making assumptions about the situation but emphasized the player's importance to the team. He added, 'I don't need to speak too much on him, everyone knows how big he is. It's a team effort and always will be, but when you have special, special players like that you want them to be available. I'm sure he will be.' ## Scotland's fan presence in Boston Scotland supporters, known as the Tartan Army, have been arriving in Boston in large numbers ahead of the World Cup opener. The group's arrival has added to the tournament's atmosphere in the host city. Fans are eagerly awaiting updates from manager Steve Clarke, who is scheduled to speak to the media on Friday. The excitement among supporters reflects Scotland's long-awaited return to the World Cup after decades.