Scotland: Why Ryan Gauld could be difference Steve Clarke needs

“The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over.”

Yep, that’s right, Ryan Gauld is back with the Scotland national team for reunion dates in Glasgow and Lisbon.

Still uncapped at the age of 28, the Vancouver Whitecaps captain will be desperate to take to the stage after returning to the senior squad for the first time in a decade on the same day Oasis announced their comeback tour.

Despite a loyal social media following fighting his corner, it felt like another call-up would never come for the Dundee United youth product.

He even conceded that he may never play football in his home country again as the style “doesn’t really suit me”.

With injuries mounting prior to Euro 2024, Clarke’s decision to take fellow MLS forward Lewis Morgan to Germany seemed to highlight how far down the pecking order Gauld was.

However, speaking for the first time since Scotland’s dismal summer, Clarke revealed the 28-year-old “was in my thoughts before the tournament”.

Now, after Euros failure and a barrage of criticism for a dull attacking approach, the head coach has turned to Gauld.

So what is it Gauld provides that makes him different to what Scotland already have? For a start, he contributes goals on a consistent basis.

After a failed loan spell from Sporting Lisbon to Hibernian in 2018-19, he has racked up a combined 105 goals and assists in the following five seasons.

In three of those five campaigns, Gauld has also managed double figures for both goals and assists during spells with Farense in Portugal and now Vancouver.

And he has posted those impressive numbers while playing a variety of positions: attacking midfield, off both wings and as a supporting striker.

Scotland’s midfielders are not predominantly attack minded. Ryan Christie is perhaps the exception, but even he is now playing a deeper role for Bournemouth.

Gauld’s ability to play in wide areas also provides Clarke with an option to change the shape of his frontline – which has often featured the one striker, supported by Scott McTominay and John McGinn.

If played more centrally, his agility, awareness and composure on the ball could be key in linking midfield and attack.

But to prove that, Gauld will have to be given a chance, which many will hope is the case when Clarke’s side face tough tests in Poland and Portugal in their opening Nations League games.