It wasn't just the impressive Liverpool loanee Ben Doak who was away from the Middlesbrough squad on international duty over the past week.
Seven other players featured for their country including Doak's Scotland team-mate Tommy Conway, who started up front in the 1-0 Nations League win at home to Croatia and was an unused sub for the 2-1 victory in Poland.
Scotland's two wins in Group A1 in their final two fixtures means they have given themselves a chance of escaping relegation to League B when they contest a play-off in March next year.