Scotland withdraw Stephen Welsh from squad and call up Ryan Porteous
Stephen Welsh has been withdrawn from Scotland’s squad for their forthcoming Nations League double-header and replaced by Los Angeles defender Ryan Porteous, the Scottish FA announced on 7 November 2026. The decision follows a knee concern that emerged after Swansea’s 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth earlier in the week.
Fears that Welsh had sustained serious knee ligament damage after a challenge from Ebou Adams during Swansea’s 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth on Tuesday appeared to have eased on Thursday. A scan showed the 26-year-old had not suffered a significant problem. Swansea had hoped he could even play some part of their game at Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Scottish FA said Welsh had been withdrawn from Scotland’s matches at home to North Macedonia on Friday and away to Switzerland on Monday, 16 November. The association confirmed the change ahead of those fixtures. Scotland must take at least four points from their final two group games to have a chance of making the promotion play-offs.
Welsh has earned all four of his caps since Sebastien Pocognoli was appointed Scotland head coach in the summer. Porteous, 27, last played for Scotland under Steve Clarke in March 2025, coming on as a late substitute to win his 13th cap in a 1-0 Nations League play-off win in Greece. The call-up returns Porteous to the national group.
The former Hibernian defender left Watford for Los Angeles last August, having finished the previous season on loan to Preston. He has made 35 appearances this year for the side sitting sixth in the Western Conference and 12th in the overall Major League Soccer (MLS) table. Those club details formed part of the context for his selection.
Porteous has been added to Scotland’s squad for the home match against North Macedonia on Friday and the trip to Switzerland on Monday, 16 November. Those two fixtures represent Scotland’s final group games, from which they need at least four points to retain a chance of reaching the promotion play-offs.
