SCOTLAND’S hopes of winning their second Nations League match against Israel in Haifa next Thursday have been boosted after their opponents’ star midfielder Eran Zahavi was ruled out through injury.

Zahavi, who only returned to his national squad after a year-long exile last month, has withdrawn from Andi Herzog’s 23 man squad for the double header against Scotland and Albania next week.

The 40-times capped 31-year-old, who has twice been named Israeli Footballer of the Year, plays for Chinese club Guangzhou R&F and is his country’s highest-paid professional athlete.

However, he missed Guangzhou’s last game due to a partial tear in a foot ligament and the Israel Football Association announced yesterday he has pulled out of the forthcoming double header after speaking to Herzog.

Israel lost their opening Nations League C match 1-0 to Albania in Elbasan last month and are currently bottom of the section that Alex McLeish's men lead after an opening 2-0 triumph over Albania at Hampden.