‘Clarke’s Scotland job security will be shaped by next four games’

Will Scotland’s remaining four Nations League games make or break Steve Clarke’s future as head coach?

The national side have picked up just one victory in their last 14 matches, including a dismal Euro 2024 campaign in Germany.

Next up, Clarke’s side face Croatia away on Saturday and Portugal at home on Tuesday in a Nations League A double-header.

Michael Grant, Scottish football correspondent for The Times, believes Clarke’s already “awkward” position could significantly worsen.

“If we perform well and contribute a lot and make chances and there’s far more energy and ambition in the performances than there was in the Euros, maybe that’ll be okay,” Grant told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“But at the same time, if it’s another two defeats, you’re going to one win in 16. That’s the statistic we just can’t get away from at the moment.

“It feels like every time I talk or write about Scotland, you feel obliged to put that in because it completely sets the mood.

“I think this is a very, very awkward spell for Clarke and it’s quite feasible that we don’t take anything from the next four games – Croatia away, and then Portugal at Hampden, and then next month we’re away to Poland and home to Croatia. So there’s no let-up.

“I think Steve Clark’s job security will be shaped by what happens in the next four games.”