‘Oversight’ on goalkeepers catches Scotland short

The lack of emerging goalkeepers is “probably an oversight,” according to head coach Steve Clarke.

Craig Gordon, 42, is still missing, so Angus Gunn will travel to Iceland and Liechtenstein in June.

Prior to being selected at Euro 2024, Gunn was a free agent after leaving Norwich City, earning him 15 caps and reclaiming his spot.

Robby McCrorie and Cieran Slicker provide backup, with the latter having played ten minutes of Ipswich Town’s entire season.

McCrorie started 20 Premiership games for Kilmarnock, while the majority of the top-flight Scots players are international.

“We haven’t quite had the same quality coming through since we had Craig, David Marshall, and Allan McGregor,” said one reviewer.

We ought to have taken note of it a few years ago. It’s most likely an oversight. You would think “that will never end” when three of our goalkeepers played at once of what level.

Marshall played 47 times, and McGregor resisted after 42 appearances, while Gordon, who made his international debut in 2004, has 81 caps.

You don’t know how the younger ones will develop, Clarke said.

You can say “we haven’t got anything,” but suddenly some 18, 19, and 20-year-olds might get some playing time and have a chance to play more frequently.

You’re looking at more and putting them in against their peers, I told the 17s, 19s, and 21s coaches in March. Then you’re searching for the one who can rise to the top of that age group.

Hearts’ Liam McFarlane and Ruairidh Adams of Dundee United have been busy this season, both on loan at East Fife and Kelty Hearts, with the exception of Ruairidh Adams, who both have recent Scotland Under-21 experience.

Before being replaced by 35-year-old David Mitchell, Lewis Budinauckas lost in his place to Greenock Morton’s Lewis Budinauckas, who had eight games with Partick Thistle and four for Rangers.

In the second half of the term, Murray Johnson of Hibernian was only allowed to play one minute with Queen of the South after playing 13 games for Airdrieonians.

“The children must play,” Clarke continued. “Many teams are essentially kept in squads to sit on the bench.” They only learn good habits through training while working with good people.

Maybe we can find a way to send these young goalkeepers to League 1, League 2, and the Championship at a younger age where they can play and perform well.

“You’re going to put a more experienced goalkeeper back in, obviously, if you’re a manager and you take a young goalkeeper and he throws a couple into the net.”