Head coach Steve Clarke has recalled a number of acquainted faces forward of Scotland’s opening World Cup qualifiers.
Brentford right-back Aaron Hickey makes a welcome return after nearly two years away from the squad following a long-term damage.
Winger Ben Gannon Doak, who has simply joined Bournemouth from Liverpool in a deal value £25m, can be again for the primary time since November.
Doak’s new membership team-mate Ryan Christie missed the final camp however is now in line to make his sixtieth cap for the nationwide aspect.
Who could possibly be his No 1?
The goalkeeping division has triggered boss Clarke some latest complications – and so they may proceed subsequent month.
He had given Cieran Slicker a debut in opposition to Iceland – however that did not go to plan for the 22-year-old, and whereas Ross Doohan additionally featured within the June friendlies, he’s now a back-up at Celtic.
Whereas they each drop out, Angus Gunn retains his place, however the 29-year-old has not featured for Nottingham Forest since his transfer in the summertime – casting doubt over his readiness.
Craig Gordon had reclaimed the gloves for Scotland’s final six aggressive matches. Nonetheless, the 42-year-old is injured, that means Hearts team-mate Zander Clark returns and will add to his 4 caps – having featured in each league sport for his membership this season.
Rangers’ Liam Kelly can be within the squad, however is second alternative at Ibrox and made only one League Cup look this marketing campaign – leaving Clarke with a giant name to make.
Who else is within the squad?
Dominic Hyam’s debut in opposition to Norway in 2023 was his final Scotland look
Blackburn Rovers’ Dominic Hyam makes a return for the primary time in over two years in defence, alongside the likes of Hibernian’s Grant Hanley, captain Andy Robertson, Celtic’s Kieran Tierney and John Souttar of Rangers.
Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a house for Everton’s Nathan Patterson or Ryan Porteous who has simply moved to Los Angeles.
On the different finish of the sphere, Scotland followers have lengthy awaited a prolific goalscorer. Nonetheless, there’s new hope that Hibernian’s Kieron Bowie may fill that void.
Kieron Bowie has impressed since becoming a member of Hibernian
He has two targets in two league video games to date, plus scored a contender for aim of the season of their Convention League qualifier in opposition to Partizan.
Bowie made his debut within the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein and can be joined by Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst and Che Adams as Clarke’s ahead choices, as Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland misses out.
Lennon Miller, who moved to Udinese in a £4.7m transfer this month, retains his place. He is one in every of 5 gamers who play within the Serie A, with Ballon d’Or nominee Scott McTominay and his Napoli team-mate Billy Gilmour additionally within the group.
Scotland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers), Max Johnston (Sturm Graz), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Kieron Bowie (Hibernian), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham), George Hirst (Ipswich).
Robertson stays optimistic regardless of outcomes
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Scotland captain Andy Robertson seems forward to the World Cup qualifiers
Captain Andy Robertson stays optimistic about Scotland’s hopes of World Cup qualification regardless of admitting latest outcomes haven’t been “up to scratch”.
They slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Iceland at Hampden Park earlier than a 4-0 win in opposition to Liechtenstein, a crew ranked 205th on the earth.
Scotland have received simply 4 of their final 16 video games and at dwelling the file stands at one victory in 9.
“I’m still optimistic, I’m still looking forward to the future,” he instructed Sky Sports activities Information at his AR26 golf day.
Steve Clarke will change into Scotland’s longest-serving supervisor in the course of the subsequent worldwide break, surpassing the late Craig Brown
“We know maybe the last year and stuff hasn’t been up to scratch but I still believe in the squad that we’ve got. I do believe that we can cause any team problems as long as we get back to the basics that we’re good at.
“We all know how arduous it’s to qualify for a World Cup.
“The last time we tried it, we had a pretty perfect campaign, only finishing a couple of points behind Denmark. We then go into the play-offs and we know how hard the games in the play-offs are.
“But when we get again to doing what we’re good at, again to our fundamentals, again to our primary rules, then I do consider we may give anybody a sport.
“I think we’ve shown that at the highest level. We’ve drawn against Portugal, beaten Croatia, beat Spain.
“I do know that feels a very long time in the past, however we’ve got competed in opposition to groups once we try this proper and that is what we will have to do for all six video games to present ourselves an opportunity.”
Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers
- Denmark (A) – September 5
- Belarus (A) – September 8
- Greece (H) – October 9
- Belarus (H) – October 12
- Greece (A) – November 15
- Denmark (H) – November 18
