Scotland face group leaders Switzerland in St Gallen during the latest international break, after a home game against North Macedonia.

The World Cup quarter-finalists have included veteran Sunderland star Xhaka and Atlanta United ace Embolo after they were both dumped from the previous four games in the competition following an investigation into them obtaining fake Covid certificates.

Xhaka and Embolo were handed suspended financial penalties, with Xhaka receiving a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs and being placed on two years’ probation.

And Yakin insisted he never hesitated in including them in his latest squad, where they face Slovenia too. He said: "That was never up for debate for me. Granit Xhaka is our leader.

"The only problem would have been if Manu Akanji, who stood in as captain in the last four games, had wanted to remain captain. But he sees Granit as the captain.

"We have a lot of battles for a place in the squad - the competition is very fierce. We have done well in this competition so far, and a point would be enough to win the group in our next match in Maribor.

"But we want to win every game in our group and maintain our 100 per cent record."