STEVE CLARKE has been given a few things to think about this weekend as he continues to ponder which players he will take with him to Germany for Euro 2024.
The Scotland boss will pick 23 players for the Euros this summer, down from the 26 he was able to select to Euro 2020.
Clarke has been notorious for selecting roughly the same group of players for every round of games for the majority of his tenure.
And who could blame him? Considering they qualified for Euro 2020 after topping their Nations League group, then only missed out on the 2022 World Cup following a defeat to an inspired Ukraine side and then surged through the section to automatically for next summer’s Euros, these players have rarely let Clarke down.
The defence and midfield mostly picks itself with the only real question marks at the opposite ends of the pitch.
Angus Gunn has made the No1 jersey his own it seems but could Craig Gordon force his way back into the goalkeeping mix?
But the biggest debate centres around the forwards Clarke could take to Germany.
In terms of out-and-out strikers, it’s all but certain he will pick Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams (barring injury).
In the wide areas and support striker positions, perhaps only Bournemouth‘s Ryan Christie can consider himself to have a safe seat on the plane.
Hearts captain Lawrence Shanland is by far and away the most likely attacking candidate to be picked from the Scottish Premiership, though there have been some calls in recent weeks for Kilmarnock ace Danny Armstrong to be considered.
With the FA Cup in full swing today however, two outsiders made their case for selection.
Ryan Fraser was the pick of the bunch with a brace for Southampton as they beat Walsall 4-0.
Former Aberdeenstar Fraser has been in the international wilderness somewhat since he was spotted training with Newcastle as normal within days of turning down a Scotland call-up on account of an injury.
But he opened the scoring for Saints with a composed finish and added a second in the 68th minute and was at the heart of much of their good play.
Playing on the left wing, he also set up Southampton’s third goal, scored by Sekou Mara.
Fraser can play on either flank as an attacking wing-back or an out-and-out winger, or just off the striker as a ten (indeed, he has played there for the national team to good effect).
Scotland cohort Adams was on the score sheet too.
Dykes put QPR 2-0 up against Bournemouth in their game but could help as the Rs succumbed to an unlikely comeback to lose 3-2.
Another outsider for selection this summer is Ryan Hardie and he helped himself to his ninth goal of the season, tucking away a penalty in Plymouth’s 3-1 win over Sutton United.
Former Hibs hitman Kevin Nisbet didn’t do himself any favours though as he drew a blank and was subbed after 67 minutes in Millwall‘s 3-2 defeat to Leicester.
Bristol City forward Tommy Conway is another name of interest to the Tartan Army and he is in action tomorrow, taking on West Ham.
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