Scotland's National Team Prepares for Historic Matches

Three weeks after taking charge for a record 72nd time, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is set to announce a potentially historic squad on Monday.

Having already secured a place in the World Cup play-offs, the team will travel to Greece on November 15, followed by a home match against current Group C leaders Denmark three days later. A victory in these matches could lead to automatic qualification for the finals for the first time in 28 years.

With Denmark holding a superior goal difference and facing bottom-placed Belarus next, Clarke's side realistically needs at least a draw in Piraeus to set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Hampden Park.

Before delving into the potential points scenarios, Clarke faces several key questions regarding player fitness and form.

Who Will Replace Gunn?

The absence of goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who has not played for Nottingham Forest since his summer transfer from Norwich City, is now almost certain. Club manager Sean Dyche revealed that Gunn has "opened up his knee ligaments," leaving Clarke in search of a replacement from a limited pool of options.

Craig Gordon, with 81 caps and a history of strong performances, is the likely starter despite being replaced by Alexander Schwolow as Hearts' number one. Liam Kelly, another goalkeeper from Clarke's last squad, is currently on the bench behind Jack Butland at Rangers.

Among recent call-ups, only Cieran Slicker, currently with League Two side Barnet, and uncapped players Jon McCracken from Dundee and Robby McCrorie from Esbjerg in Denmark's second tier, have seen regular game time.

In-Form Shankland's Time Again?

In a rare turn of events, Scotland's attacking prospects appear promising. Che Adams scored the opening goal in the last match against Belarus and followed up with a goal for Torino in their 2-2 draw with Pisa.

George Hirst increased his tally to five goals for the season with a brace in Ipswich Town's 4-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers. Lyndon Dykes, who secured his spot in the squad with a crucial goal against Greece last month, continues to come off the bench for Birmingham City.

However, Kieron Bowie has struggled recently with Hibernian, leaving the fourth striker spot potentially open. Tommy Conway, despite Middlesbrough's strong position in the Championship, has gone nine games without a goal.

Mikael Mandron's impressive double in St Mirren's 4-1 win over Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final has sparked calls for his inclusion, although he faces stiff competition from the resurgent Lawrence Shankland, who is currently the top scorer in the Premiership with Hearts.

Right-Back Worries Continue

Scotland has seen a shift in defensive strengths, with recent injuries impacting their right-back options. Max Johnston of Derby County has been ruled out for six to eight weeks due to a hamstring injury, while Nathan Patterson requires a hernia operation.

Johnston had been called up after Aaron Hickey's injury during Scotland's victory over Greece. However, Hickey has returned to training, although Brentford's head coach Keith Andrews deemed it too early for him to play in the weekend match.

On the left, Kieran Tierney's ongoing injury issues have limited his appearances for Celtic, while national captain Andy Robertson made a return to Liverpool's starting lineup in their 2-0 win against Aston Villa.

Binks to be Wild Card?

Clarke is known for his loyalty to players, but he occasionally surprises with unexpected selections. In addition to Mandron, Brondby's Luis Binks has expressed his desire to play for Scotland again, having previously represented England at youth level.

Though Binks has been performing well, Scotland's current center-backs are all regular starters for their clubs. The midfield is also well-covered, but Clarke may be concerned after Billy Gilmour was substituted early during Napoli's 0-0 draw with Como.

Scotland's National Team Prepares for Historic Matches

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