GLASGOW, Oct 7, 2008 (AFP) - Scotland have suffered a triple injury blow ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Norway after Kenny Miller, Kris Commons and Kevin Thomson wre all ruled out of the Hampden clash.

Both Miller, who is a first-choice striker for manager George Burley when fit, and Commons have hamstring problems while Rangers midfielder Thomson suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by St Mirren.

The loss of Miller is the most serious blow to Burley's plans with the forward's club, Rangers, having decided that he should have an injection to treat a hamstring injury.

Another Rangers striker, Kris Boyd, is most likely to benefit from Miller's absence with Burley now set to go for a pairing of Boyd and James McFadden in attack.

Miller has been hampered by the hamstring problem since Scotland's 1-0 defeat by Macedonia in their opening qualifier.

Rangers boss Walter Smith explained: 'Kenny has a problem at the top of his hamstring and he has had that for a few weeks now.

'It needed an injection and it means he has to rest for five or six days before he starts training again and hopefully that will settle the problem.

'From our own point of view it is something that had to be done but unfortunately it means he misses the Scotland game.

'Although he played last Sunday against St Mirren, it is something that has been aggravating him and causing him pain.'

Winger Commons has not played for his English club Derby since September 13 because of his injury.

Thomson had already ruled himself out after being helped off the pitch at Love Street following a controversial challenge by St Mirren midfielder Garry Brady.

'I've watched it a few times on TV now and it doesn't look very clever on his behalf,' Thomson said. 'He's turned his back and gone in with a straight leg and his studs showing. It looks as if he knew fine well what he was doing and that's what disappoints me most of all.

'I was really looking forward to being a part of things for the Norway game and I'm gutted to have to withdraw. At the moment I'm probably looking at two weeks out but it's hard to tell because there is so much internal bleeding.'

After their disappointing defeat in Macedonia, the Scots bounced back to win 2-1 in Iceland last month, leaving them joint top of group nine alongside Holland, who have played only one game so far.

Norway drew 2-2 at home to Iceland in their only match so far.