Scotland manager George Burley admits the state of his squad would have him worried if he had to take them to this summer's European Championship.

Under former boss Alex McLeish, the Scots just missed out on qualification for the competition that starts next month in Austria and Switzerland.

Scotland will provide friendly opposition to one of the successful qualifiers, the Czech Republic, in Prague on Friday but Burley's squad has been decimated by pull-outs.

The former Hearts and Southampton boss originally left out Ibrox foursome Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch, Barry Ferguson and David Weir due to the Ibrox club's hectic end-of-season fixture schedule.

But Burley's squad was further weakened when five more players - including Rangers trio striker Kris Boyd, Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker, along with James McFadden and Alan Hutton - withdrew from the trip to Prague.

Hibernian's Steven Fletcher also failed to train due to a chest injury and is doubtful.

Asked if he would be worried had Scotland had been heading to a major championship, Burley replied: "You would do.

"It's been an unusual season, especially with Rangers playing 68 games - 19 of them in Europe. I don't think it will happen again.

"The number of games does worry you but there's nothing we can do about it. We get criticised for playing friendlies but it's the only way we're going to get it right.

"Some countries are playing three games at this time of year. The Czech Republic has had a week's training camp and are playing two games so I don't think we've overdone it.

"It would be nice to get a good compliment of all the players you've picked but unfortunately that hasn't happened."

Burley added: "We've got 17 fit players and James Morrison will make his debut and Barry Robson will start for the first time.

"Kevin McNaughton has been out in the wilderness and done very well for Cardiff and I'll look to start him as well. It's a big platform against a top-class side who are really focused on the Euros.

"I'm hoping for a good performance. I don't think anyone will give us a chance of going there to win, but I'm looking to carry on from my first game against Croatia where we drew 1-1."

Burley insists it will be a chance for Robson in particular to stake a claim for a regular midfield position.

He said: "Barry is such a passionate boy, he's really enthusiastic and he wants to go out there and play for his country.

"He's versatile, he's played wider areas at Dundee United but since he's gone to Celtic, he has played in the middle for the past couple of months.

"He'll certainly do a good job for his country."

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