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Scott McKenna to miss Barcelona clash as Scotland star banned after 'curious' yellow card

Scotland's Scott McKenna during a 2024 UEFA European Football Championship Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Stuttgart Arena
-Credit:SNS Group


Scott McKenna's hopes of shocking Barcelona for a second time are over after a "curious" yellow card earned him a ban.

The 28-year-old centre-back, who joined Scotland teammate Oli McBurnie in making the move to La Liga over the summer, was a standout performer as Los Amarillos made history by winning away to Barcelona for the first time in 53 years back in November. Goals from Sandro Ramirez and Rangers flop Fabio Silva did the damage, but it was the battling qualities of the rock solid McKenna that earned praise from his boss after the game.

However, Robert Lewandowski and co will now be licking their lips at the prospect of heading the strugglers for revenge, with a late yellow card for McKenna ruling him out of the February 22 clash. McKenna picked up the booking for a shirt tug on Cyle Larin during Las Palmas' defeat to Mallorca - his fifth of the campaign - but it came as the final whistle was blown.

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McKenna has made himself a mainstay of Las Palmas' defence, with his suspension considered a blow by Estadio Deportivo, who said: "The Scottish centre-back arrived in the summer transfer market at no cost from Nottingham Forest. The player has established himself as the centre of defence for the Canary Islands. Diego Martinez has full confidence in the defender, who is putting in good performances for Las Palmas."

After the win against Barcelona in November, boss Martinez singled out his Scots for praise saying: "I don’t like to differentiate. Because we are a team. We have two brilliant Scots, Oli, Scott, who feel it like they’re from Gran Canaria. For the guys who have been here a long time, it’s special, but I would highlight the team spirit, and what it means for all of us."

Fan website UDLasPalmas.net said: "The most curious thing about Scott McKenna's yellow card is that it was in the last play of the match, when he grabbed Cyle Larin with time already up and when the ball had not yet reached the red-and-white striker." McKenna's booking was reported by referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias as being: "For holding an opponent, doing so in an obvious and persistent manner."