Postpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 22 May
Image source, XHere's the Harvey Barnes theory I just mentioned in the previous post.
I'm fully on board and prepared to have my heart broken.
Summary
Liverpool teenager Ben Doak included in provisional squad with fellow uncapped player Ross McCrorie
James Forrest and Ryan Jack also included in 28-man pool, with two being cut before the finals
Postpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 22 May
Image source, X🐔 Cluck cluckpublished at 10:36 British Summer Time 22 May
Image source, XDecent patter from Tony Watt, suggesting the chicken in the Scotland teaser video means he is in the squad.
Of course the Dundee United striker has own pet chickens. We got to meet them!
Someone on X thinks it could a subtle dig at Harvey BARNes being included. Give me some of that hopium.
Media caption, Dundee United forward Tony Watt takes BBC Sport Scotland to meet his pet chickens.
'Scotland need goals'published at 10:33 British Summer Time 22 May
Colin Hendry
Former Scotland captain on BBC Radio ScotlandI can't see someone coming in from left field. But we need goals, that's how we're going to win games.
We've relied a lot on the middle of the park. McTominay, McGinn and these guys have produced the goals.
How do players find out?published at 10:29 British Summer Time 22 May
Image source, Getty ImagesHave you ever wondered how a player finds out if they're in a squad or not?
Is there a phone call? Or a WhatsApp? Or is it just a notification stating "Steve Clarke has added you to the group 'Scotland Euros squad'."
BBC Scotland's Richard Winton reveals all here.
'Right-back only real issue'published at 10:26 British Summer Time 22 May
Kenny Miller
Former Scotland striker on BBC Radio 5LiveFor all the injury scares we've had over the last month or two - right wing-back is the only real issue.
You would much rather have Hickey and Patterson competing for that slot.
Who is going to be the one to fill that? Anthony Ralston has been in the squad and got caps and never let the team down.
You've got Ross McCrorie who I'm hearing is on the verge of a call up. He's been playing right wing-back for Bristol City and can play a number of positions.
There are options there. They're not ideal options, but we're going in with pretty much a full squad outside that position. I'm pretty optimistic.
The 'guarantees'published at 10:23 British Summer Time 22 May
Of course nothing is guaranteed, but we reckon these 23 places are sealed in the 28-man provisional squad.
There will be questions about the conditions of Norwich centre-back Grant Hanley and Southampton's Stuart Armstrong.
But if they are both passed fit, we think there are only five spots up for grabs.
Postpublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 22 May
So we pretty much know who's going to be ruled out through injury. But who are the certainties?
We did some educated guessing...
Hickey & Patterson ruled outpublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 22 May
The news everyone had been expecting was confirmed by John Carver earlier this week.
Scotland's first and second picks at right-wing back, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, will miss Euro 2024.
Hickey hasn't played for club or country since October with a hamstring injury and Patterson requires surgery on a similar issue.
"Aaron Hickey is out, Nathan Patterson's out and we know [Lewis Ferguson] is out as well," Scotland assistant coach Carver told BBC Radio Scotland.
"Three young guys who obviously are going to be disappointed. They have got Euros and World Cups ahead of them so hopefully we can continue to qualify and they will get their opportunity down the line."
Wait, a 28-man squad?published at 10:13 British Summer Time 22 May
Yep. A provisional one. Steve Clarke will include 28 names on the squad that's announced at 11:00 BST.
That will have to be cut down to 26 for the tournament.
⏳ Not long to go...published at 10:09 British Summer Time 22 May
Image source, SNSTwenty-eight lads are about to get some great news.
They've almost certainly been informed of it already, but still.
Today's the day Steve Clarke names his provisional Scotland squad for Euro 2024.
The buzz is real. Very real.
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.
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)