Steve Clarke will identify his preliminary Scotland squad for Euro 2024 on Wednesday – however who might be on that aircraft to Germany?
That image has change into much less clear in latest weeks following accidents to key gamers.
There are issues at right-back, whereas choices should be made within the goalkeeping division and in midfield.
So do not be stunned if greater than the allowed 26 gamers are named – giving Clarke time to evaluate his choices within the weeks earlier than the June 7 deadline.
A complete of 29 gamers featured in Scotland’s eight qualifiers – Clarke stated the “core workforce” of that profitable marketing campaign “deserve the prospect to go to the Euros” – that means he may have some very powerful choices to make…
A defensive dilemma
The large query mark is at proper again. Aaron Hickey will miss out with a hamstring damage, having not performed for Brentford since final October.
Hickey’s possible understudy, Nathan Patterson. The Everton defender can be out after selecting up a hamstring damage in final month’s stoppage-time defeat by Chelsea.
So who’s Clark reaching out to? The excellent news is that he may have no scarcity of alternate options.
Anthony Ralston might be an choice – he has featured in latest groups – however not first alternative at Celtic. Former Aberdeen defender Ross McCrory is also within the squad having impressed for Bristol Metropolis and was known as up final June rather than the then injured Ralston.
Elsewhere, former Motherwell participant Max Johnston received the Austrian title with Sturm Graz this season and got here on in its place in final yr’s pleasant towards France, whereas Liam Palmer made 38 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday.
There’s all the time the choice of attempting to lure the likes of Newcastle’s Tino Liveramento to declare for Scotland, or will he contemplate reverting to a future method and deploying Kieran Tierney at right-back as an alternative of his centre-back position?
There may be excellent news on protection as properly. Norwich’s Grant Hanley and FC Copenhagen’s Scott McKenna, who each withdrew from the March camp by way of damage, returned to motion for his or her golf equipment earlier than the tip of the season.
Whichever gamers Clarke selects at right-back may have two warm-up video games in June towards Finland and Gibraltar to try to safe a beginning spot within the match opener towards Germany.
Who will break by way of within the midfield?
Though Serie A star Lewis Ferguson’s hopes are over after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, there might be excellent news for Scotland followers if Stuart Armstrong returns from damage.
Ferguson featured in three qualifiers and each March friendlies – and whereas he could not have began in Germany – captain Bologna would have been in Clarke’s squad had he not needed to bear surgical procedure.
In the meantime, Armstrong was stretchered off throughout Southampton’s defeat to Cardiff Metropolis final month, however membership boss Russell Martin says the participant has a “nice likelihood” of constructing it.
That is an space of the pitch the place Clarke is blessed with quite a lot of high quality choices.
Callum McGregor, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie have featured in all eight Euro qualifiers – an achievement matched solely by ahead Lyndon Dykes – suggesting the boss will probably be constant together with his method within the center.
Kenny McLean (7) and Billy Gilmore (5) have additionally made common appearances and are anticipated to board the aircraft to Germany.
Nevertheless, might Celtic’s James Forrest get a type of further seats on the aircraft? Regardless of not that includes for the nationwide workforce since 2021, he completed the season in wonderful type together with his membership, scoring 5 targets in eight video games, and will present another choice in assault – and even fill in at right-back .
Aberdeen’s Connor Barron can be reportedly in line for a shock call-up after impressing for Aberdeen this season.
Is Gordon making an excellent comeback?
Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn will probably be Clarke’s No.1 after beating Hearts’ Zander Clarke and Motherwell’s Liam Kelly earlier within the qualifying marketing campaign.
After pledging his allegiance to Scotland – regardless of enjoying for England U21s – he took over from the injured Craig Gordon, who was recovering from a damaged leg in December 2022.
Nevertheless, aged 41, Gordon bounced again and returned to the Scotland squad as one in every of 4 goalkeepers within the March friendlies.
Solely three are anticipated to move to Germany – so who will miss out?
Kelly performed the primary half of final yr’s defeat to France in October, however has stored simply three clear sheets within the Scottish Premiership all season, whereas Motherwell have conceded 59 targets – their fourth-most.
Clarke, in the meantime, stored 16 clear sheets – bettered solely by Rangers’ Jack Butland – as Hearts conceded the fewest targets of any membership exterior the Outdated Agency.
Clarke stored Gordon out of motion at membership degree – though he featured in three Championship video games and 4 cup matches – and would have overtaken David Weir because the oldest Scotland worldwide had he performed, at 41
Earlier this yr, throughout apply, Clark was weighing his choices and urged that enjoying time wasn’t the one issue that might decide his determination.
“I will take all the things I’ve received,” stated the Scotland boss. “The composition of the squad for the match contains different elements reminiscent of the steadiness of the squad and gamers who’ve been within the squad for a very long time, so it won’t be a straightforward determination.”
Shock attacker?
Might there be a shock on the high of the sphere?
Dykes and Che Adams had been virtually assured to be within the squad, whereas Lawrence Shankland was additionally on account of fly to Germany after a forgettable season.
The Hearts ahead has scored 31 targets in all competitions and scored throughout Scotland’s attract Georgia.
The likes of Luton City’s Jacob Brown and Millwall’s Kevin Nisbet had been neglected of the most recent Scotland squad after struggling seasons at membership degree.
Will Clark persist with the three – or might there be a shock problem for one more identify reportedly being thought of, Ben Doak?
The 18-year-old Liverpool ahead has not featured at senior degree, having made six appearances for the U21s, whereas one other wildcard might be Southampton’s Ross Stewart, who returned to motion within the first leg of the play-off towards West Bromwich Albion.
Watch Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad announcement stay on Sky Sports activities Information from 11am on Wednesday.
Scotland’s preparations for Euro 2024
June 3: Gibraltar (n), pleasant, begin at 17:00
June 7: Finland (h), pleasant, beginning at 19.45
Who will Scotland face at Euro 2024?
After closing friendlies towards Gibraltar and Finland, Scotland will head to their Euro 2024 base camp within the Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on June 9.
Clarke’s workforce will play their first match of the match towards hosts Germany on the Allianz Area on June 14.
The Scots additionally face perennial qualifiers Switzerland and Hungary, who made the knockout rounds in 2016.
Scotland have a historical past of kicking off tournaments, with Scotland’s opening match of the 1998 World Cup towards Brazil, which they narrowly misplaced 2-1 because of a second-half personal objective by Tom Boyd.
This time they may begin on the Allianz Area, taking over Switzerland in Cologne on June 19 and Hungary on June 23 in Stuttgart.
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