BLACKBURN Rovers defender Hanley has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for tomorrow's game against Norway because of injury - denying him a reunion with Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Hanley has reportedly been experiencing some tightness in his hamstring since Friday's friendly with the USA and has now returned to Rovers, who will assess the centre back in the next few days.

Hanley follows Jordan Rhodes in pulling out of the Scotland squad for the trip to Norway, meaning neither will get the chance to face Pedersen tomorrow.

Their former Ewood Park team-mate has returned to the Norway squad after a long absence, shortly after leaving Rovers to join Turkish side Karabukspor. He collected his 75th cap in Friday's match against Denmark.

Before Hanley's withdrawal, the Scot said: “I got on really well with Morten at Blackburn. He was in the team when I made my debut.

“He’s one of the best professionals I’ve ever seen. You won’t get many better than him in terms of dedication and what he puts into the game. Obviously as a kid coming through you have to look up to a player like that.

“The number of games he’s played in the English Premier League shows you that he’s quality. At one time there were all sorts of clubs after him, including Manchester United, and that was no surprise to me.

“He struggled to get into the team in the end at Blackburn which was a shame because of what he did over the years for the club.

"But the fact he’s come back on to the international stage shows you the type of guy he is.

“He’s well over 30 and yet looks after himself really well. He could go on and play for years because of how he’s conducted his career.”

Hanley played the full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw with the USA at Hampden Park on Saturday.

Burnley defender Danny Lafferty and Burnley-born midfielder Oliver Norwood both played as Northern Ireland lost 1-0 in a friendly in Turkey.