Livra-mentos is inspired!

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

Greg: Hi Phil, Everton supporter here, with the next Everton boss on everyone's lips, I think we saw the right man for the job over the last four days. He won’t get it because the new owners will bring their own man in but it’s Lee Carsley for me. Knows the club, would bring young players through and play the football we crave.

Hello, Greg. Had a few questions about Carsley and Everton over the last few weeks.

I agree with you that he will not come into contention if, as I believe, prospective new owner Dan Friedkin will bring his own man in to succeed Sean Dyche, probably at the end of the season with – in the ideal scenario – Everton still in the Premier League and Dyche’s contract expired.

Given Everton’s plight, it would also be a huge task for any manager, particularly one who has not managed full time at club level.

Carsley may well have had an unblemished record as England’s interim manager had it not been for a reckless selection gamble that backfired against Greece at Wembley, but he fulfilled his remit in restoring them to the top tier of the Uefa Nations League while giving youth its chance.

The standard of opposition must always be taken into account but there is a lot for Carsley to be proud of.

Everton? Not now but maybe at some time in the future because, as we know, he was a highly respected player and personality during his time at the club.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

Alan: Do you think there is any way back for Marcus Rashford with England, given that new coach Thomas Tuchel appears to have so many attacking options to choose from when he takes over?

Hi Alan. There is always a way back but it has to start with Rashford discovering his lost spark playing for Manchester United – perhaps new coach Ruben Amorim can be the catalyst.

Rashford is still only 27 and there have already been suggestions new coach Thomas Tuchel is a big admirer.

You’re right, though. There is some serious competition in the positions Rashford occupies and he has a lot of work to do – starting at Old Trafford.

Love it, we have today's Get Involved theme. Keep your answers coming in.

Sticking for England, last night Lee Carsley was asked about his time as the Three Lions boss.

He said he's "always learning" and has got "stronger with every international window".

Brilliant.

Other chocolate bars are available, of course.

Two things. One, remember to leave your name on texts.

And two, what would be for sale in the England players' tuck shop?

Scotland

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has travelled despite a virus over the weekend and Steve Clarke is hopeful the 41-year-old will be available.

Poland are without captain Robert Lewandowski and Sebastian Szymanski, two of their scorers in the 3-2 win in Glasgow, as well as Southampton defender Jan Bednarek.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

Martin: Hi Phil, good morning from an Everton fan enjoying the international break. My question is on time-wasting by players, and teams as it is clearly orchestrated by some, and particularly 'head injury' stoppages, which appears to have become increasingly important in a premier league defender's toolbox. I am all for player safety but I am sure I share many fans frustration at the increasing number of stoppages. I am sure it is purely coincidental that a very large percentage happen when a defence is under pressure. If players safety is paramount how can a player who goes down holding his head be allowed to carry on after a quick look over by the physio. Surely there should be a medical assessment and the player should be made to stay on the sidelines for a longer period than currently, one minute perhaps. I wonder how many 'head injury' stoppages we would continue to see.

Hi Martin. Head injuries are a very difficult one for officials because they simply cannot take the risk of ignoring them. They have to stop the game – they cannot take a guess and wonder if there is an element of play-acting because it is just too serious with health potentially at risk.

I do, however, agree that this has been misused by some in the past to get a game held up or break up play. I would not be against a specific time off the field, not least to allow recovery, but currently referees simply have to stop the game.

Image source, PA Media

I have heard some manager excuses in my time, but this might just top the lot.

Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway has claimed their poor run of form could be down to the training ground being haunted.

Holloway said there were "some strange things happening" after Robins captain Ollie Clarke ruptured a tendon in his ankle during training last week.

The 61-year-old added he would be asking his wife to "cleanse the area" with sage as it is close to an ancient burial site.

"I'm absolutely devastated so I'm going to try and cleanse the training ground area because people are telling me it's haunted," Holloway told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

"There's a graveyard somewhere near. Honestly, I'm not joking.

"I think our training ground is very close to an ancient burial site so I'm going to get my wife to come up and say sorry to all these people and hopefully we'll have a bit more luck."

Scotland

Scotland have plenty to play for in Group A1.

• They will qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Poland, Croatia lose to Portugal and there is a two-goal swing in goal difference.
• Steve Clarke's side will enter the League A/B play-offs if they win, Croatia lose, but do not overtake them on goal difference.
• Scotland will be relegated if they fail to win.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

BBC Sport chief footballer writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

Martin: Hello, Phil. Everton fan here. Do you agree with me that Jordan Pickford is criminally under-rated for club and country.

Hello, Martin. Don’t think I need to underline Pickford’s importance to Everton to you. I genuine believe Everton would be in the Championship now had it not been for his sustained excellence for his club. I don’t think anyone with an Everton connection would under-rate him.

I do, however, think he has been very under-rated for England, with people looking to pick holes that did not exist in his performances.

I think that is changing now. People are realising just what a top-class keeper he has been. He showed it again in Greece in a game England largely dominated, making two outstanding saves in each half with the score 1-0.

Here is a telling statistic. Pickford has now equalled the legendary World Cup winner Gordon Banks’ record of 73 caps, testimony to his consistency.

He has kept 34 clean sheets and, measured by OPTA statistics, has made only one error leading to goal, which was against Belgium in March.

I think this says it all.

Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland round off their Nations League campaign away at Poland tonight buoyed by their impressive 1-0 win over Croatia on Friday.

Steve Clarke's side are currently bottom of a tight Group A1 but still have a chance of maintaining their League A status. They could even finish second and qualify for the quarter-finals if results go their way.

Winger Ben Doak impressed on his fifth international appearances and Clarke says it will be "my job" to decide whether the 19-year-old winger will start in Warsaw.

"He's obviously feeling good about himself but he's in among good people. We'll keep his feet on the ground," he said.

"He's a big talent for now and a big talent for the future, hopefully, for the country. There's plenty of time for him to develop.

"I haven't named the team. The boys don't know the team yet but I have a fair idea in my head what it'll be."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

Chris: Hi Phil, I think we can all agree that Caoimhin Kelleher is far too good to be a number two goalie and that he is proving he could be Liverpool's number one given time. My question is, could you see a scenario where Alisson Becker is allowed to leave for Real Madrid or even Saudi Arabia and Caoimhin becomes number one with Mamardashvili playing the Kelleher role as he is now?

Hello, Chris. Totally agree on point one. Kelleher would be first choice at many Premier League clubs such is his proven quality at Liverpool.

Strangely, he plays plenty of games for Liverpool because Alisson is susceptible to injuries for a goalkeeper, but eventually Kelleher will surely want regular, guaranteed game time.

I regard Alisson as the world’s best keeper so would be surprised if Liverpool sold him, but maybe, given he does get injuries, they may be tempted by a big offer. My view is they wouldn’t, certainly not just yet.

What is clear is that the arrival of Mamardashvili next summer will crystallise Kelleher’s situation one way or the other. I reckon, barring a surprise Alisson sale, he will move. There is surely no way he would contemplate being understudy to Mamardashvili, and rightly so in my opinion.