Football
Clarke on injuries, fresh faces & Gordon’s return
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media after naming his squad for the Nations League double header against Croatia and Portugal this month.
Here are the key points from the media conference:
-
Clarke says it is one of the toughest squads he has had to select amid a “testing time” with injuries
-
Craig Gordon said to him he would not stop at 75 caps and its testament to his professionalism and mentality that he is back in the squad
-
Nicky Devlin and Liam Lindsay have both had good club careers and now is their chance to compete for international recognition with a “horrendous run of injuries defensively”
-
Amid the list of injuries generally in football Clarke says it needs to be “looked at” and players should be consulted on schedule changes
-
It’s a “big blow” to lose set-piece coach Austin MacPhee but a bigger blow for him with his father’s illness. Scotland will use another analyst for the games against Croatia and Portugal and then assess whether they will replace MacPhee.
-
The Scotland boss expects a “tough test” in both matches this month
Scottish gossip: Hagi, Palma, Toure, Balikwisha, Nisbet, Trapanovski
Scotland set to make history as Craig Wallace leads Wildcats into first World Cup
Scotland set to make history as Craig Wallace leads Wildcats into first World Cup
Women’s T20 WC: ‘Most Important Thing Is To Not Over Complicate’, Says Scotland’s Sarah Bryce
Fashion executive’s Scottish sportswear firm enjoys surge in sales and profits
Celtic: Brendan Rodgers won’t change Champions League approach despite Dortmund rout
Fantastic Voyage: Andy Irving completes shock journey from German minnows to Scotland squad
St Johnstone confirm Simo Valakari as new head coach
The absent XI that Scotland must do without this month
