Scotland call up Doak, McCrorie & Forrest for Euros
- Published
Uncapped Liverpool teenager Ben Doak is a shock inclusion in Steve Clarke’s provisional Scotland squad for Euro 2024.
The 18-year-old is yet to start a Premier League match and has recently resumed training after a knee operation in December.
Celtic winger James Forrest is recalled nearly three years since his last international appearance and there is a place for uncapped Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie.
The 28-man list must be trimmed to 26 by 7 June.
Head coach Clarke retains four goalkeepers, including veteran Craig Gordon, with one expected to be cut.
Scotland warm up with friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland before opening the tournament against hosts Germany on 14 June.
Scotland’s other Group A opponents are Switzerland and Hungary.
- Published22 May
- Published22 May
Clarke keeps faith in core group
Seventeen of those chosen were Clarke picks at the delayed Euro 2020.
McCrorie, 26, has been in senior squads before and the versatile former Rangers and Aberdeen player was a fixture at Under-21 level, playing 20 times over a four-year period.
He missed the first half of this campaign through injury but has since been a regular for Bristol City, filling in at right-back, wing-back and central defence.
Doak has two goals in six Under-21 outings for his country.
He made three Europa League starts and one in the EFL Cup in the early part of the season, along with a cameo on the opening day of the Premier League campaign.
Fitness doubts?
Scotland have lost Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson and Lewis Ferguson to injuries, while there must be concerns over Doak, Grant Hanley, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Jack.
Southampton midfielder Armstrong is recovering from a hamstring problem sustained last month, while defender Hanley was an unused substitute in both legs of Norwich City’s play-off loss, having missed most of the season with an Achilles issue.
Jack has not played for Rangers since early March.
How the Scotland squad was announced
Lack of minutes a problem?
Doak, Hanley and Jack are not the only ones with limited game time this term.
The absence of Hickey and Patterson has propelled Anthony Ralston to the front of the right-back queue.
However, the 25-year-old with eight caps has only started eight games for Celtic in all competitions.
Liam Cooper is an influential dressing room character for Leeds and Scotland but has started just eight league games.
At the age of 41, Gordon, the second choice goalkeeper at the last Euros, has managed a mere seven matches since breaking his leg in December 2022.
Forrest made only three Celtic starts prior to April. However, he was reinstated for four post-split Premiership matches, scoring three goals and providing one assist, to go with a goal and assist in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
At the other end of the scale, Aston Villa captain John McGinn has played in 61 matches for club and country.
Where are the goals coming from?
McGinn has an impressive 18 goals from 64 caps, placing him fifth on Scotland's all-time scorers list.
Scott McTominay hit a magnificent seven in qualifying, with only Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane scoring more. The powerful midfielder also reached double figures for Manchester United.
Che Adams may have gone 10 internationals without finding the net but his haul of 18 has helped take Southampton to the Premier League play-off final.
And then there's Lawrence Shankland, who must be brimming with confidence after banging in 31 goals for Hearts and picking up the PFA Scotland player of the year.
Doak is bolter in Clarke's expected squad - analysis
As far as creatures of habit go, Clarke would give a house cat a run for its money.
The rumours that he was on the verge of picking Aberdeen’s Connor Barron always seemed a little fanciful, but then so, too, did the chat of Doak being included.
Doak hasn’t played for Liverpool since mid-December, but you can see why Clarke is keen to have a look at him. He’s a flyer and he offers something different.
His level of fitness must be decent, even if he’s not been appearing for what was Jurgen Klopp’s side. Doak is the bolter.
One goalkeeper and one other player will lose out when this squad is cut from 28 to 26. Doak still has a lot of work to do, but his inclusion is exciting.
It almost - almost - takes your mind off the fact Hickey, Ferguson and Patterson are missing. Right-back, or right wing-back, remains an issue to keep the Tartan Army awake at night.
There are rustiness concerns over Hanley, Armstrong and Jack, but Clarke has gone with the tried and tested, while crossing his fingers that they’ll be ready.
Forrest’s late surge with Celtic - and injuries elsewhere - has got him in. A few weeks ago he was kicking his heels on the Celtic bench and now look at him.
If Scotland in Germany can be as unbreakable as Forrest’s spirit then these championships should be a joy.
Provisional Scotland squad in full
Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Heart of Midlothian), Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian), Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Liam Kelly (Motherwell)
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forrest), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Ryan Jack (Rangers)
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Ben Doak (Liverpool), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), James Forrest (Celtic), Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian)