Forest defender Gunter pulls out of Welsh squad

A VIRUS has forced Nottingham Forest defender Chris Gunter to withdraw from the Welsh squad due to face Scotland.

The 20 year-old full-back, who has played in Wales' last 14 internationals, has an infection and is expected to be out of action for up to a fortnight.

It means he could miss the trip to Middlesbrough in the Championship.

For Wales, Gunter's absence means 17-year-old Cardiff defender Adam Matthews – called up for the first time – is certain now to get a place on the bench on Saturday in Cardiff.

Gunter is the fifth player to withdraw from John Toshack's original squad, set to face George Burley's side at Cardiff City's new stadium.

Craig Bellamy, James Collins, Jack Collison and Simon Davies have pulled out - while Boaz Myhill, Neal Eardley and David Vaughan were not considered because of existing injuries.

Toshack said: "The injury thing seem to follow us around. Recently, they've been genuine things; they've been bad luck – 99% of them anyway.

"But we can't keep missing players through injury, because we can't get any continuity."