Clarke ready for ‘difficult’ talks when Scotland squad is trimmed

Scotland boss Steve Clarke is braced for “very difficult” face-to-face conversations next month when he has to cut two players from his squad for Euro 2024.

Clarke has announced a provisional pool of 28 ahead of warm-up friendlies against Gibraltar on 3 June and Finland on 7 June, the day he has to reduce the squad.

“More than a third of the squad have still got games to play this week, be involved in games before we meet up,” he said.

“There’s probably five or six players who we have maybe a doubt about.

“Let’s see how the pre-camp pans out and then we will take it from there. But ultimately there is going to be two very difficult conversations.

“The good thing about it is it won’t be a telephone call. It will be a sit down, face to face and I will just have to tell it as it is. But it will be two difficult conversations.

“But I am really pleased I can sit here and put out those names. It makes the tournament feel a little bit more real.”