"The reason Lee (McCulloch) has pulled out of the second game is because he's not yet ready to play three matches in the space of a week and seeing how Scotland can't qualify now it makes sense.
"The main concern now is that all the internationals come back in good shape. I've had no reports of injuries, although Kav (Graham Kavanagh), Conners (David Connolly), Bainsey (Leighton Baines) and Ryan (Taylor) potentially still have another game to play this week so it's fingers crossed. To be fair, Newcastle will be in exactly the game position with their players."