Steve Clarke handed injury boost after weeks of major damage to Euro squad

IN THE middle of an injury crisis Steve Clarke has been delivered some good news.

The Scotland boss has seen Nathan Patterson, Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson ruled out of the remainder of the season by their club bosses.

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And that’s put their Euros squad places in serious jeopardy.

Add uncertainty over Stuart Armstrong, Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney over recent weeks and there are no problems for the Scotland boss to seek.

Not when key midfielders Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor have been sidelined in the run up to the Euros.

Scotland, of course have the honour of opening this summer‘s extravaganza in Germany against the hosts.

But that means even less recovery time for the ailing stars to shake off a long season, and their knocks.

And even wildcard options like Oli McBurnie have been ruled out too.

So step forward Southampton striker Ross Stewart.

The former Sunderland, St Mirren and Ross County hitman HAS been a previous pick of Steve Clarke‘s – although not for two years.

He last featured in the 3-0 defeat to Ireland in Dublin back in June 2022.

But the £9m rated striker could give the boss an extra option after reporting back fit – just in time for the end of the season.

Saints boss Russell Martin says he could pitch Stewart back into his team for the promotion crunch with Leeds next weekend.

And with an extra three places on the plane – and such is the squad’s injury ailments – that could be enough to add him back into consideration.

However, Stewart has only played 17 minutes this season.

Martin said: “All being well, Ross will be on the bench next week against Leeds.

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“Hopefully, fingers crossed, he’s come through training really nicely.

“He’ll have a big session in the morning and then have Sunday to recover. He will then be fully with the squad next week. So, all being well, we look forward to having Ross in the squad.”

Stewart slipped down the pecking order in the last two years, despite being in high demand down south.

Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland are all leading the way to Munich, but the likes of Jacob Brown and Kevin Nisbet have also been included more recently than the Saints striker.

Clarke may look to use his three bonus squad places to try out untested internationals – like he did with Gilmour, Patterson and David Turnbull in 2020’s delayed tournament – and the likes of Ryan Hardie and Tommy Conway have been in strong scoring form for Plymouth and Bristol City respectively.

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