SPFL star spotted training with Scotland squad before call-up has been revealed

STEVE CLARKE has been forced into making a late change to his squad ahead of this week’s Nations League double header with Poland and Portugal.

Scotland will take on Robert Lewandowski‘s Poland at Hampden this Thursday before Cristiano Ronaldo faces the Tartan Army for the very first time in his career in Lisbon on Sunday.

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Clarke’s squad for the matches this week looks pretty different compared to the group of players who headed to Germany in the summer.

Celtic skipper Callum McGregor has dropped out after announcing his retirement from international duty last month.

But his absence paved the way for Clarke to call upon MLS standout and former Dundee United wonderkid Ryan Gauld for the first time.

Max Johnston also comes in, while John Souttar and Ben Doak are back after missing the final squad at Euro 2024.

Clarke did make one big call on his three goalkeepers too.

He decided to drop Rangers‘ new stopper Liam Kelly for former Ibrox backup Robby McCrorie who is now at Kilmarnock.

But with days left before the big kick off at the national stadium, he has since had to rejig his plans.

That’s after Derek McInnes‘ new stopper suffered a hip problem and has since been forced to withdraw from the squad.

However, the Scotland boss hasn’t called upon former Motherwell No1 Kelly as his replacement.

Instead, the national boss has put his faith in Dundee keeper Jon McCracken and has rewarded the 24-year-old for his standout displays between the sticks for Tony Docherty’s men.

It was believed McCracken was on the cusp of a call up for the initial squad announcement but he narrowly missed out to McCrorie and Clark.

Gunn will be first choice for the 61-year-old but he could opt for McCracken or Clark in one of the two games.

McCracken is someone Gunn knows well having been team-mates at Norwich City before he sealed bis move to Dundee in February.

McCracken initially joined Docherty’s side on loan in February before signing a permanent deal in June after being released by the Canaries.

The national team have yet to officially confirm his call-up.

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