Scotland Prepares for Crucial World Cup Qualifiers
Scotland's national football team, having last played just 20 days ago, is already in the process of assembling its squad for two crucial World Cup qualifiers.
The Scots currently sit second in Group C on goal difference after starting their campaign with an away draw against Denmark and a victory over Belarus in Hungary. They continue their quest for qualification for their first World Cup since 1998 with a home double-header against Greece and Belarus next month, which will be broadcast live on the BBC.
Given the short timeline— the final qualifying window is in November— it is expected that there will be few new faces in the squad that the dedicated head coach, Steve Clarke, will announce on Tuesday.
However, even this soon after the last squad announcement, Clarke faces some significant decisions.
Who Will Start in Goal?
Let’s address the pressing issue at goalkeeper first.
Although Angus Gunn managed to keep back-to-back clean sheets upon his return to the Scotland goal earlier this month, he has struggled for game time at his new club, Nottingham Forest. Since August 31, he has only been named on the bench once, during a late League Cup victory against Swansea, and has yet to catch the attention of new manager Ange Postecoglou.
Fortunately for Gunn, no other goalkeeper has emerged as a clear contender for the starting position. Zander Clark has not featured for Hearts since joining the squad, while Liam Kelly of Rangers has only played in a match against Alloa Athletic during the Premier Sports Cup this season.
The most recent call-up who is actively playing is Cieran Slicker from League Two Barnet. Despite a challenging debut at Hampden, Slicker has started nine league matches and recently saved two penalties in a single game against Crewe Alexandra.
Scott Bain, the Falkirk goalkeeper, received considerable praise despite his team’s 3-0 defeat to Hearts on Saturday. His performance prevented a larger margin of loss. However, his last cap for Scotland came over six years ago in a 2-0 win against San Marino, which marked the end of Alex McLeish’s tenure before Clarke took charge.
Clarke's decisions regarding the goalkeeping position remain a point of intrigue as he prepares for the upcoming matches.
Defensive Sacrifices for Offensive Strength?
Initially, Clarke named ten defenders in his squad for the opening matches of the campaign, but Celtic players Anthony Ralston and Kieran Tierney withdrew just before the match in Copenhagen. Josh Doig from Sassuolo was called up in their absence, and the defensive lineup remained solid.
Tierney is likely to be included again, as he played 82 minutes in the Europa League against Red Star Belgrade after a full 90-minute match against Partick Thistle. However, Ralston only recently returned from injury during a goalless draw with Hibernian.
Aaron Hickey, who made a strong impression during his international return, has continued to perform well at Brentford, recently making his first Premier League start in 700 days during a win at Old Trafford.
Despite previous injury issues, Hickey appears to be regaining form, and with Max Johnston available to support, Clarke may have to make tough decisions regarding Ralston and others to strengthen the attack.
Is Gannon-Doak's Spot at Risk?
In brief, no.
The Tartan Army would likely protest if the Bournemouth player is not included in the squad on Tuesday. Following a man-of-the-match performance against Belarus in his first start since November 2024, the former Liverpool winger has seen only 17 minutes of Premier League action since then. However, his lack of playing time is a concern for Clarke.
Should Burke Make a Comeback?
If you haven't heard, Oliver Burke recently became the first Scotsman to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga, achieving this feat for Union Berlin against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 21. Since then, calls for his return to the national team have intensified.
The 28-year-old made his international debut as an 18-year-old in 2016, but his last appearance came in 2020 against Israel. Each of his goals showcased attributes rarely seen in a Scotland shirt, particularly his pace and power. Former international Paul Lambert noted that Burke is making it difficult for Clarke to overlook him.
Lambert commented, "The Bundesliga is incredibly strong and technical, and for him to score a hat-trick is a significant confidence boost. Now he needs to maintain that level of performance." Burke’s follow-up performance against Hamburg was less impressive, which may affect his chances of being called up.
Can Shankland Earn a Recall?
Lawrence Shankland recently became the highest scorer in the SPFL era, netting his 163rd goal across all divisions since the league's inception in 2013. While this achievement has garnered praise, Clarke does not seem to be swayed by statistics alone.
Shankland has rediscovered his scoring form after a difficult previous season, tallying seven goals already this season, including a record-breaking strike against Falkirk and a double at Ibrox.
However, he faces stiff competition from established international forwards like Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams, who has scored four goals in his last three matches for Scotland. With the emergence of Kieron Bowie and George Hirst, who have also shown promise, Shankland’s path back into the squad appears challenging.
As Clarke prepares for the significant matches against Greece and Belarus next month, he faces the difficult task of making the right selections for his squad.