Scotland wait on Russell as Hurd & Bhatti join squad

Star fly-half Finn Russell remains with the Scotland squad for Sunday’s Test against Argentina at Murrayfield.

The 33-year-old was replaced in the closing stages of Saturday’s 25-17 defeat by New Zealand after knee and ankle problems, with head coach Gregor Townsend saying after the match “we hope he’ll be fit for next week”.

An update from the Scotland camp makes no mention of the Bath playmaker as Rory Sutherland, Aaron Reed and Murphy Walker drop out.

Leicester prop Will Hurd returns after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the opening two autumn Tests, and Glasgow looeshead Jamie Bhatti has also been called up.

Sutherland suffered a concussion as a replacement prop against the All Blacks, while wing Reed has picked up a quad injury.

Talking after the frustrating loss to New Zealand, Townsend said of Russell: “His knee was the initial injury, and I thought he was outstanding, even though he had that knee strain.

“The reason we took him off was because he had an ankle [knock] too, so there were two injuries he was carrying.

“He doesn’t think it’ll be serious, but it’s obviously too early to say.”

Zander Fagerson was not deemed not quite ready for the New Zealand game, although Townsend has said he hopes the Glasgow tighthead can make his comeback from a long-term lay-off this month.

Scotland finish the series against Tonga on 23 November, having opened with a record 85-0 victory against the United States.