Scotland manager Steve Clarke has emphasised the importance of upcoming Nations League matches, against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday week either side of facing Ukraine at Hampden Park and in Poland, after a disappointing summer saw them miss out on World Cup qualification.
“I have always said it is a squad that has progressed well over my tenure,” said Clarke on naming a 25-strong panel minus Liverpool left back Andy Robertson. “If I am being honest about it, I felt that June was the first time we stopped.
“And now we have to pick up the mantle and start progressing through these three difficult matches. We are in a position where we have our destiny in our own hands and that’s all you can hope for. We have to do better than we did in the summer and we have to pick up the points to top the group.”
Scotland lie second in Group 1, a point behind Ukraine and two points ahead of Ireland, with a game in hand, in a competition that the Irish management initially expected to win outright. That will prove impossible if Ukraine beat Armenia in Yerevan, where Ireland lost in June, on September 24th.
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“It is always disappointing to lose key players,” said Clarke of the knee injury Robertson suffered during Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat to Napoli. “Andy is obviously a key player, captain, a big character for us within the squad. But as you lose one top quality left back you get one back with Kieran [Tierney] being available this time.”
It has been a tricky few weeks for gifted 21-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour, who secured a move from Chelsea to Brighton only for his new manager Graham Potter to move the other way following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.
“He’s not very lucky, Billy, is he? ” Clarke quipped. “Listen, I think Billy will be set in his own mind that he wants to play more football. He didn’t feel as though he was going to get that chance at Chelsea. Obviously football can change very, very quickly as Billy has found out. He has got everything to play for at Brighton.”
Switching Premier League clubs is the sort of problem Ireland manager Stephen Kenny would gladly accept. The Scots boast 10 Premier League players in their squad, with 20-year-old Nathan Patterson recently usurping Seámus Coleman as Everton’s starting right wing back.
Coleman has yet to see any minutes under Frank Lampard at Goodison Park this season as the Ireland captain’s chances of commanding a starting spot in Kenny’s Ireland XI recede.
Robbie Brady, however, is set to earn his first competitive cap since the 1-0 defeat to Luxembourg in March 2021, following a solid start to the season at Preston North End.
“I’ve always believed in my ability and I knew if I got a run of games and my body behaved itself I could show a bit of what I’m about,” said Brady. “I don’t feel as if I’m firing on all cylinders yet but I’m getting the minutes in and the games in and I’m enjoying it. There’s more to come from me.”
Injury to Enda Stevens opens a space at left wing back where Brady can compete with James McClean for game time against Scotland, or Armenia in Dublin the following Tuesday.
Scotland squad for Nations League
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Jon McLaughlin (Rangers), Liam Kelly (Motherwell).
Defenders: Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Jack Hendry (Cremonese), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Ryan Porteous (Hibernian), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Callum McGregor (Celtic), David Turnbull (Celtic), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Jacob Brown (Stoke City), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle Utd).
