SCOTLAND striker Duncan Ferguson has been ruled out of the European Championship finals by Everton manager Joe Royle.
Royle made his decision yesterday after discussions with the specialist who has been treating the player's long term groin injury.
Ferguson will miss Everton's final two games of the season and Scotland's friendly with fellow Euro '96 finalists Denmark in Copenhagen next Wednesday as he begins a period of complete rest.
"We've made the decision that he won't play in our last two games. We want him to have a full rest over the summer to give him a chance of a full recovery for next season," said Royle.
The news will come as a blow though not a surprise, to Scotland manager Craig Brown, who watched Ferguson complete the full 90 minutes of Tuesday night's Merseyside derby, but hobble out of Goodison afterwards. Brown had named Ferguson in his squad for the Denmark game.
Ferguson, who missed a chunk of this season because he was serving a jail sentence, has made 20 appearances for Everton this term 18 since his release from prison, and netted seven goals. He won the last of his five Scotland caps in Greece 16 months ago.
