Five midfielders who could fill the Callum McGregor void in Scotland line-up

STEVE CLARKE’S loss is Brendan Rodgers’ gain when it comers to Callum McGregor.

The Celtic skipper’s decision to step back from Scotland duty – and focus all his efforts on domestic duty – is a selection headache for the Scotland boss.

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One that comes less than a month from the start of the Nations League and Hampden home game against Poland.

Clarke has lamented his loss, paying tribute to McGregor and his 63 caps – which included two separate Euro campaigns and a goal in the first against Croatia.

But Brendan Rodgers has welcomed it from his own Hoops perspective.

He said: “There’s no doubt from a selfish persepctive that it’s great news for Celtic.”

And it’s not just Rodgers who McGregor’s call will benefit.

The midfielder has played such a huge role for the national side over the past six years he’s regularly held a shirt.

Now, there’s a jersey waiting to be filled.

Sunsport takes a look at five candidates who will fancy their chances of taking on the role as the new national team no8.

Lewis Ferguson

The obvious choice.

Somehow, despite being one of Serie A‘s star midfielders, the Bologna captain was unable to break his way into Scotland’s star-studded central positions.

It’s a scenario unthinkable just a decade or so ago – yet, here we are.

Once recovered from injury, Ferguson seems the natural replacement ready to make the step from the bench into the starting role.

He’s rapidly gaining the experience against top level pro’s in Italy and he’ll add Champions League too later this season.

Not only that he can carry one of McGregor’s leadership skills as Bologna skipper in replacing the Hoops captain.

He’s been there or thereabouts for the past three years and now is the opportune time to make squad regular a team regular.

However his horrific knee injury that ruined his Euro 2024 dream has also kept him out and he’ll need time to get back up to speed and in Nations League contention – which is an opening for an alternative pretender to the throne.

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Connor Barron

An outsider for the Euro squad in the summer, but in the end only Ben Doak was called up from the under-21s.

Barron has plenty of background in the Scotland set-up, appearing 11 times for Scot Gemmill‘s side.

He’s also pushing on in his career making this summer’s move from Aberdeen to Rangers, and he’s settled quickly. Barron has been the most impressive – and consistent – of Philippe Clement‘s summer signings.

A logical step is a Scotland call up sooner rather than later, and while he’s maybe behind Ferguson in the pecking order, he’;s seized his opportunities so far whenever they’ve arisen.

He’d likely have the confidence in his own ability to do likewise if given the nod from Steve Clarke in McGregor and Ferguson’s absence.

Lennon Miller

Another like Barron believed to be on the fringes of a call-up for the Euro squad – but it similarly didn’t materialise.

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Lennon is THE star for the future at Motherwell.

There have been loose links to Rangers already and even at 17 he has the stature of a player much older, and a footballing brain to boot.

Well grounded by ex-pro dad Lee he’s also Motherwell’s main man and seems undaunted in the world of senior football.

He’s scored some worldies for the national team at youth level too which also helps and like McGregor has the discipline to play in a holding or defensive role or gambol forward as Clarke sometimes asked the Hoops man to do earlier in his tenure.

He’s not even played competitively for the under-21s yet – but he looks more than capable, so it’s not if, it’s when Miller makes the step into the senior team.

It’d raise very few eyebrows if the time was now, although Miller has picked up a recent injury at the Steelmen.

David Watson

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All that said, Scotland’s Young Player of the Year went to Ayrshire – not Aberdeen or Motherwell.

David Watson saw off Miller and Barron for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association award, and the PFA gong voted for my his fellow professionals.

And if anyone knows, it’s them.

Like Miller he’s still a teen making his move into the under-21s, but he’s got a European goal to his name this season already.

Highly rated by Kilmarnock, those who watch the game and play it – he’s destined for a solid career if he continues in similar vein – not to mention international honours.

Ryan Gauld

Youth is not on his side. Well, at 28, not quite as much as the previous three, but there’s definitely a clamour for Ryan Gauld to be included in the Scotland set-up.

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Even just once.

The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder is one of the big stars of the MLS in America, with 75 goal involvements in 122 appearances… yet has no caps to his name and was overlooked by Steve Clarke for the Euros, and even the warm-up friendlies.

He plucked Lewis Morgan out of the States for the tournament so he’s well aware of what’s going on across the pond and it’s a real headscratcher why an all-star like Gauld hasn’t been included in a squad or two given his form.

He’d also be a very tidy fit to replace McGregor albeit one with a long haul flight for every call-up.

But with McGregor out of the picture it might just, finally, be the time if the youngsters aren’t ready and Clarke fancies giving the fans – well a healthy number of Tartan Army – what they want.

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