Liverpool starlet included as injury-stricken Scotland squad announced for Euros

Scotland have named their 28-man provisional squad ahead of Euro 2024 including Liverpool teenager Ben Doak.

Head coach Steve Clarke has had to deal with serious injuries, which has hampered his squad announcement on Wednesday with key players like Lewis Ferguson, Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey already ruled out.

Liverpool ace Doak, 18, has been included despite not featuring since December through injury – and he is yet to feature for the Scotland senior team.

There were spots for Norwich’s Grant Hanley and Copenhagen’s Scott McKenna, who returned to action for their clubs before the season ended to give Scotland a big boost at the back.

Liverpool star and Scotland captain Andy Robertson has also been named and will be desperate to stay fit after a injury-stricken campaign.

After Ferguson, who has captained Bologna to Champions League football this season in Serie A, cruelly ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him for a significant amount of time, the return of Stuart Armstrong gave Clarke some good news.

Scotland Euro 2024 28-man provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Zander Clark (Hearts), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Liam Kelly (Motherwell).

Defenders: Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad), Jack Hendry (Al Ettifaq), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Scott McKenna (FC Copenhagen), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Greg Taylor (Celtic), John Souttar (Rangers), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City).

Midfielders: Callum McGregor (Celtic), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton & Hove Albion), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Jack (Rangers).

Forwards: Lyndon Dykes (Queen’s Park Rangers), Che Adams (Southampton), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ben Doak (Liverpool), James Forrest (Celtic).

The Southampton star gave the Tartan Army a scare after being stretchered off last month but has been named in the squad to go to Germany this summer.

Premier League trio McTominay, John McGinn and Billy Gilmour have also been named to give Clarke options in the middle of the pitch.

Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes, who have been Scotland’s strike force throughout the Euro qualifiers, are also on the plane.

There were also spots for two players at opposite ends of their careers with 41-year-old Craig Gordon a surprise inclusion after being named in the March squad.

Scotland will open this year’s Euro 2024 competition when they take on hosts Germany in Munich on June 14.

They will also face Hungary and Switzerland in a tough group but might fancy their chances after qualifying for consecutive European Championships for the first time since 1996.

However, Scotland will hope to do better than their appearance in 2020 where they failed to win a single game.

They finished bottom of their group, which included England, with their 0-0 draw against the Three Lions seeing them earn their only point.

Scotland wowed during their Euro qualifiers, finishing second behind Spain in a group that also included Norway, Georgia and Cyprus.

Along the way, they registered a famous 2-0 win at Hampden Park where McTominay scored twice.

And Clarke might need the Manchester United star to continue his goalscoring exploits to give Scotland a chance at Euro 2024.