Steve Clarke on Adams call-off, squad evolution & glass-ceiling target

Clarke confirmed Che Adams misses out through injury and was informed by Torino of it on Saturday morning. There’s “no big drama”.

It’s been “a long summer” for the Scotland head coach who is “looking forward to seeing what we get from the players” though is sure it will be “a big reaction”.

Following his second Euros with Scotland, he stressed the “target is the glass ceiling” in “doing what no Scotland team has ever done” by advancing from the group stages.

Clarke said his squad is about “evolution, not revolution” and it’s “important to respect” the core group who qualified for back-to-back Euros.

However, Clarke added he’s “looking at this Nations League campaign and thinking ‘this is the chance to try and evolve the group'”.

The head coach said the young players in this squad have brought “enthusiasm and a breath of fresh air,” though in an ideal world he wouldn’t have had to dip into the Under-21 pool as much as he has.