The countdown is on as Steve Clarke prepares to call his Scotland squad for the World Cup, and it’s protected to say the nationwide group head coach has lots to weigh up over the approaching weeks…
Defeat at residence to Japan, the place the gamers had been booed off, was adopted by one other 1-0 loss in opposition to the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Subsequent, Clarke will identify a 55-man pool earlier than finalising his 26-man squad by the top of Might, as Scotland return to the largest stage in soccer for the primary time since 1998.
There’s a core group you’d anticipate to be assured a spot, barring harm, however there are additionally a quantity on the cusp and by Clarke’s personal admission, even room for “an outsider”.
“Should he stay or should he go” was the phrase utilized by the pinnacle coach when addressing his personal future – and it’s much more apt as we check out who may have a spot on the aircraft, and who may be left at residence…
The goalkeeper conundrum
Angus Gunn (L) and Craig Gordon have been Clarke’s important goalkeepers
Who to select as his primary will not be a brand new dilemma for Clarke.
Accidents and a scarcity of recreation time at membership degree have meant that, because the Euros, six gamers have been thrown the gloves – and the highest two on that checklist are at the moment not taking part in for his or her golf equipment.
Angus Gunn began all three group video games at Euro 2024, and was once more between the sticks initially of the Nations League marketing campaign that adopted. An harm noticed him drop out of the beginning XI, however he returned for the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers. Nonetheless, there was one other harm that meant he did not finish that marketing campaign both.
Whereas it might sound he’s primary, after additionally that includes in opposition to Japan, he isn’t taking part in for his membership. This season, he has seen simply 45 minutes of motion at Nottingham Forest.
Angus Gunn began Scotland’s Nations League and World Cup qualification campaigns earlier than harm
The issue for Clarke is that the person he has turned to most of the time in Gunn’s absence has additionally struggled for recreation time at his personal membership.
Craig Gordon, 43, stepped in for Gunn within the Nations League and throughout the World Cup qualifiers – however missed the newest camp as a consequence of an harm. Shoulder points and the spectacular type of Hearts’ No 1 Alexander Schwolow have restricted Gordon to simply three league appearances.
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Craig Gordon made an impressive save earlier this season to assist Hearts beat Dundee and stay prime of the desk
Scott Bain, who left Celtic for Falkirk final summer season to extend his taking part in time, is the one possibility that includes repeatedly for his membership.
He is missed only one league recreation all season, and having been named in current squads, he made his first Scotland look in seven years, in opposition to the Ivory Coast.
The 34-year-old was a second-half substitute, changing Rangers’ Liam Kelly who has additionally been within the group of late, however is taking part in second fiddle to Jack Butland at Ibrox.
Scott Bain (L) and Liam Kelly (R) each featured in opposition to the Ivory Coast
In the meantime, the likes of Cieran Slicker and Ross Doohan – who featured in friendlies final summer season – are unlikely to be recalled.
Defensive dilemmas?
Andy Robertson is all however sure to captain Scotland on their World Cup return
Captain Andy Robertson, Celtic duo Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston, John Souttar of Rangers, plus centre-backs Scott McKenna and Jack Hendry had been in each World Cup qualifying squad, so that you’d anticipate them to be on the aircraft to the USA.
Brentford’s Aaron Hickey was too, and may he totally get well from the harm that noticed him miss the March camp, he’ll have to dig out his passport too.
The identical ought to apply to Hibernian’s Grant Hanley. The 34-year-old was in each squad for the World Cup qualifiers, plus the March video games. Regardless of not that includes within the latter, throughout a marketing campaign that has seen him final play at membership degree in February as a consequence of harm, he brings expertise that Clarke will need within the USA.
Scotland common Grant Hanley has had restricted recreation time at Hibs lately as a consequence of an harm
The likes of Everton’s Nathan Patterson, plus Bristol Metropolis’s Ross McCrorie, Dom Hyam of Wrexham all featured in these warm-up video games, and might be in Clarke’s ideas.
Nonetheless, what about those that did not make the newest camp? Sassuolo’s Josh Doig and Max Johnston of Derby County had been in current squads and will look to power their manner into the equation.
May Steve Clarke recall Max Johnston to the Scotland squad?
Whereas Hearts may very well be represented at each ends of the pitch come the summer season, followers of the Scottish Premiership leaders will really feel the likes of Craig Halkett, Stuart Findlay and Harry Milne ought to reinforce the defensive position too – solely time will inform if Clarke agrees.
Midfield consistency
Scott McTominay’s unimaginable bicycle kick in opposition to Denmark despatched Scotland on their strategy to victory and a spot on the World Cup
The strongest a part of the Scotland group, on paper a minimum of, is the midfield.
Ballon d’Or-nominated Scott McTominay elevated his icon standing even additional with the outrageous overhead kick opener in opposition to Denmark and might be sure to be on the aircraft to North America this summer season.
John McGinn is one other talismanic determine, with the Aston Villa captain essential to Scottish hopes this summer season.
In truth, if match, the eight gamers who had been in each squad for the qualifiers ought to make the ultimate minimize. That checklist contains Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak and Kenny McLean – sure, the one who scored from the midway line.
Kenny McLean’s objective from the midway line might be a second the Tartan Military will always remember
Gannon-Doak is the one participant from that checklist who did not characteristic within the Japan and Ivory Coast squad as he works his manner again from an harm picked up within the win over Denmark final November.
He missed Euro 2024 as a consequence of an harm too, so Clarke will hope the teenager is match and able to make his mark within the USA.
Ben Gannon-Doak was unnoticed of Steve Clarke’s March squad as he works to construct up health following a long-term harm
Whereas he affords tempo within the extensive areas that no different Scotland participant can, Clarke believes 19-year-old Findlay Curtis can provide “something similar” to Gannon-Doak.
The winger, who’s on mortgage at Kilmarnock from Rangers, was a shock call-up for these warm-up video games. Will he have finished sufficient on this camp to catch Clarke’s eye? A method he can guarantee he is within the combine is by persevering with to impress at membership degree between now and the top of Might.
In the meantime, Andy Irving returned to the fold in March and might be hoping he can power his manner in after his transfer to Czech aspect Sparta Prague. Hibernian’s Josh Mulligan and Connor Barron of Rangers can even be in Clarke’s ideas.
Striker shock?
Lyndon Dykes (L) and Che Adams have nearly 100 Scotland caps between them
The ahead space is more likely to be Steve Clarke’s largest conundrum.
Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes are the 2 strikers he has relied on most throughout his time in cost, and are all however assured a spot in his World Cup squad.
Nonetheless, their goalscoring ratio is a priority.
Dykes missed the Euros with an ankle harm and has managed only one objective in his 14 worldwide appearances since returning to the squad.
Adams, in the meantime, has netted in 4 of his final 27 Scotland matches. Nonetheless, two of these got here throughout the qualifiers for the World Cup and he’s taking part in repeatedly for Torino, the place he has 4 Serie A objectives this season.
If Clarke wants objectives, may Lawrence Shankland present a ready-made reply? The Hearts captain missed the March video games as a consequence of harm however is again in motion at membership degree because the Jambos bid to win a historic Scottish Premiership title.
Shankland is match once more and hoping to win the Scottish Premiership title with Hearts earlier than going to the World Cup with Scotland
He scored 11 objectives and offered three assists in his 21 video games earlier than that hamstring pressure however ought to he rediscover that contact – will probably be a straightforward selection for Clarke.
Primarily based on the final 4 squads, Ipswich’s George Hirst is in line to take the fourth spot. The 27-year-old has scored 9 instances within the Sky Wager Championship this season, featured in each World Cup qualification squad, plus began the ultimate of March’s warm-up matches.
Tommy Conway – who has eight objectives for Middlesbrough this season – feared his probabilities of making it to North America had been over earlier than he was known as as much as the latest squad. He began in opposition to Japan and got here off the bench within the defeat to the Ivory Coast.
Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway made his first begin for Scotland in opposition to Japan
In the meantime, Kieron Bowie has not featured for Scotland since his transfer from Hibernian to Serie A strugglers Hellas Verona however will hope to impress in Italy and power his manner into the combo, as will Oli McBurnie, who has 13 objectives for Hull this season however final featured for Scotland in 2021.
There’s lots for Clarke to weigh up and a few massive calls to make.
Scotland are World Cup-bound. Once they’re there, the objective is not simply making up the numbers – development from the group phases at a serious finals is the goal. Clarke is aware of he wants to select the right group to ship simply that.
We’ll be coming… with hope and expectation.
