Gunn back & Motherwell players miss out – Scotland squad takeaways

With Scotland heading to the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998, Steve Clarke’s squad for March friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast held extra intrigue and significance.

Aside from a maiden call-up for teenage Kilmarnock winger Findlay Curtis, there were few shocks, nor major hints as to who may have a chance to break into a core group who have brought success by qualifying for consecutive major finals.

Although, as expected, the squad has a familiar feel to it, Clarke was clear there is still room for players to play their way into the group who will head to the United States in June, when they will take on Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.

He said there were four more players who he wanted to have in the squad for the games against Japan and Ivory Coast, but injuries deprived him of that chance.

“There are some players I feel I need to have a look at,” Clarke explained. “A lot can change over the next 10 weeks before you pick your final squad.

“Hopefully, no significant injuries but it can happen and has happened to us before, so we have to be ready to cover all the bases.

“There are a few players who could have been in the squad and are not in the squad – but I know what they can do.

“I’ve got other players in the squad where I’m maybe not convinced yet about what they can and can’t do. So, let’s have a look and see what happens.

“There is always room for someone else, an outsider.”

Only Curtis, Sparta Prague midfielder Andy Irving and Wrexham centre-back Dom Hyam are fresh faces from November, once regulars returning from injury are discounted.

Hyam, who is playing every week for a Wrexham side in play-off contention in the Championship, may have the most to gain if given time to show what he can do.

The inclusion of 19-year-old Curtis was a surprise, given he was left out of the last under-21s squad in November despite a promising breakthrough season at Rangers and now on loan at Kilmarnock.

A first call-up for a talented youngster with a potentially big future is to be celebrated, but it also draws attention to Scotland’s depleted stock of more experienced wingers.

Ben Gannon-Doak has had a transformational impact on Scotland’s attack since being let loose in the 2024 Nations League.

His ability to hold width and take on players has been a big asset, but he has not played since going off injured against Denmark in November and is being given time to get his fitness back after only returning to the Bournemouth squad this week.

Harvey Barnes’ decision to play for England rather than Scotland was a blow, so who else might make a late bid for the World Cup?

At 34, James Forrest is still contributing at Celtic and made the Euro 2024 squad, but probably falls into the category of Clarke knowing what he can do as far as being called into the March squad goes.

Falkirk’s Calvin Miller has six goals and nine assists this season as one of the Scottish Premiership’s standout wingers and may feel unlucky to have missed out.

Hearts left-back Harry Milne has shown he can contribute well as a winger on both sides of the pitch as well.

Under-21s winger Adedire Mebude is playing regularly in the Turkish top flight with Rizespor after a January move from Westerlo in Belgium but has not been included this month.

Clarke has shrewdly moulded a successful Scotland side without an abundance of wingers during his seven years at the helm, but there is a lot riding on Gannon-Doak’s fitness to give the country the best options possible.

Angus Gunn played the first four games in World Cup qualifying, before an injury caused him to miss the crunch games against Greece and Denmark.

Craig Gordon stepped in brilliantly, but now the 43-year-old is struggling with a shoulder injury himself and is second choice at Hearts.

That paves the way for Gunn to take the gloves back this month despite playing only 45 minutes for Nottingham Forest this season.

Clarke says he has not decided yet whether Scott Bain, Falkirk’s first choice, or Liam Kelly, Rangers’ backup, will also get time on the pitch in the upcoming friendlies.

Premiership leaders Hearts and fourth-placed Motherwell have caught the eye this season, as have some of their Scottish players. However, neither side has a player in this latest Scotland squad.

Hearts would have done but for injuries to Lawrence Shankland and Gordon, and perhaps even centre-back Stuart Findlay might have been included.

Nonetheless, Findlay’s defensive partner Craig Halkett, Milne, and midfielder Marc Leonard have not been given a go, at least for the time being.

Likewise, Motherwell having the best defensive record in the Premiership has not yielded call-ups for Stephen Welsh, Paul McGinn or Stephen O’Donnell.

Like Findlay, O’Donnell and McGinn have previously been capped by Clarke and McGinn’s brother John is a Scotland mainstay, including being in the latest squad.

Clarke was asked about Hearts and Motherwell and said: “I really think both those teams have been exceptional.

“But maybe the team is better than the sum of the parts, which is a credit to the coaching staff and managers of both teams.