Scotland Men's Football Team

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Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill says new club cooperation agreements have been "great" and will have a "big effect" on the opportunities available for young players to develop.

Under the Scottish FA initiative, which came into effect this summer, clubs can have partners in each division which allow Scottish under-21 players to move freely between parent and loan clubs.

Gemmill, whose side open their latest European qualifying campaign against Czechia and Portugal next month, said: "We speak about it a lot, how crucial it is for the players to get an opportunity.

"We all realise how difficult it is and it's credit to the players that they've put themselves in that position where the manager trusts them to play in these big games.

"The Scottish FA have done great work changing the rules on the cooperation agreement. I think that's going to have a big effect and more and more young players are going to get an opportunity."

Gemmill has also been able to call up 18-year-old Rangers and Celtic players following first-team breakthroughs.

Ibrox winger Findlay Curtis has scored three goals in six appearances this season, and Celtic right-back Colby Donovan is set to add to his two Under-21 caps after making his first-team debut during Saturday's win over Livingston.

"Obviously the two examples you're referencing are very high profile at the top level but it will be happening at all levels due to the cooperation agreement," Gemmill added.

Scotland U21 squad: Adams (Dundee Utd, on loan to East Fife), Mahady (Leeds), McFarlane (Hearts), McKenna (Bournemouth); Anderson (Kortrijik), Cleall-Harding (Dundee Utd), (Donovan (Celtic), Graham (Dundee), McPherson (Celtic, on loan to Partick), Smith (Ross County); Borland (Aston Villa), Curtis (Rangers), Kelly (Millwall), Lawrence (Man City), Lets'osa (Partick), Montgomery (Blackburn), Mullen (Dunfermline), Thomson (Dundee Utd), Watson (Kilmarnock); Gardner (Grimsby), Mebude (Westerlo), One (Sheff Utd), Ure (Sirius), Wilson (Hearts).

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Scotland's goalkeeper selection is the one "mystery" going into their World Cup qualifying campaign, says Cillian Sheridan.

Steve Clarke has called up Zander Clark, Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly for next month's matches away to Denmark and Belarus.

Hearts' Clark has played six times this season, Gunn is yet to feature for new club Nottingham Forest and Kelly has played once at Rangers this term.

Republic of Ireland international Sheridan does not believe it is necessary for head coach Clarke to announce who will be his number one.

"I don't think it would be that much of an issue, maybe more if you're a centre-half or you're playing in a position that you need to have a partnership with the goalkeepers," Sheridan told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"The most beneficial way would be potentially the actual goalkeepers, if they all had a clear idea. But then again you can say it breeds competition within the squad if they all think there's a number one slot there available for them to compete for. It creates healthy competition.

"It's probably the one position where you don't really know what he's going to to. That's the one position where there is actually a bit of mystery over, you're never quite sure who is going to be the number one."

Football writer Gordon Waddell, meanwhile, says Clark must believe he is the frontrunner for the gloves in next month's opening double-header away to Denmark and Belarus.

"If I'm Zander Clark and I'm the only one of these three guys who's actually playing regular football and I don't get picked ahead of Angus Gunn, who's not playing, then the psychology of that's quite difficult for Clarke as well," Waddell said.

"I'm not saying he'll assume that he's going to be playing when he comes into the squad, but at the same time, he'll probably be thinking, well, if ever there's a time for me to be getting caps here, it's surely ahead of these two guys who aren't playing."

Derby County have agreed a £3.5m deal with Austrian club Sturm Graz for Scotland right-back Max Johnston, 21, who is set to undergo a medical ahead of signing a four-year contract. (Sky Sports), external

Everton and Scotland defender Nathan Patterson is wanted by Sevilla, who are exploring a loan deal for the 23-year-old. (Liverpool Echo), external

Scotland defender Scott McKenna, 28, draws praise after his start to life at Dinamo Zagreb. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke says Ben Gannon Doak "has to play" following his move from Liverpool to Bournemouth.

The 19-year-old has been called up by Clarke for the World Cup qualifying opener against Denmark and Belarus.

Gannon-Doak, who has six Scotland caps, has moved in a potential £25m deal.

"He has to play, he has to keep his standards high, he has to do well when he plays," said Clarke.

"Obviously for us it's nice to have him back because he gives us something a little bit different to the players that we have. It gives us another option.

"We've shown that we can play different systems with Ben, different systems without Ben and that's what we'll try and do over the six games."

Clarke admitted a degree of remorse at omitting forward Tommy Conway.

"I feel a little bit sorry for Tommy Conway, but I've got Lyndon Dykes back fit," he explained. "I just feel that Lyndon's experience can give us a little bit more up front, certainly for these two away games. But Tommy's another one that we shouldn't forget about in the future.

"When I look at that squad, it's got a lot of good experience in it, players that know how to qualify for major tournaments and I'm hopeful we can do that again.

"We need six top performances over a short space of time and I believe this group of players can deliver that."

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has named his squad for the opening World Cup qualifiers away to Denmark and Belarus.

Here's a taste of what he had to say:

• The wait for a place at a World Cup since 1998 is "probably too long", says the head coach before adding: "Hopefully, we can put it right this time."

• Clarke is "excited for the challenge" of a six-game campaign over three months.

• "Really good" to have "single-minded and determined" Aaron Hickey back from long-term injury.

• "Big player" Hickey will have his minutes managed as he builds up fitness.

• On the appointment of Steven Naismith as a replacement for assistant coach John Carver, Clarke feels it was important to have someone "who understands the way I work".

• Clarke says Bournemouth is a "good move" for Ben Gannon Doak "if he plays". Scotland can adapt different systems with and without the winger.

• "Feels sorry" for Tommy Conway but has gone with the experience of fit-again Lyndon Dykes. Lawrence Shankland has also not been selected but is "not out of our thoughts".

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke on World Cup hopes, Steven Naismith and Tommy Conway.

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Derby face competition from Serie A side Bologna for Scotland defender Max Johnston.

The Rams have already had two bids rejected by Sturm Graz this summer for the 21-year-old right-back, who scored in Saturday's 3-1 Austrian Bundesliga win at Ried.

Johnstone has attracted other Championship interest and is preparing for Graz's Champions League play-off against Bodo/Glimt, with the first leg in Norway on Wednesday.

He moved to Graz from Motherwell in 2023 and has won back-to-back titles in Austria's top flight, making more than 60 first-team appearances and scoring twice.

Last season, the Scottish full-back also registered five assists in 24 league appearances.

Johnston made his senior debut for Scotland in the Nations League win over Greece in March before delivering an assist on his first international start under Steve Clarke in June's loss to Iceland.

Chris Cadden expects Hibernian team-mate Kieron Bowie to be lining up as Scotland's number nine soon. (Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Aston Villa are to dismiss enquiries for Scotland midfielder John McGinn, 30. (Football Insider), external

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was in the crowd at Easter Road as once-capped Kieron Bowie scored a stunning goal in Hibernian's 3-2 loss to Partizan, which sealed a 4-3 aggregate win in the Conference League third qualifying round. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber said he has no intention of letting right-back Ross McCrorie leave the Championship club this summer.

Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol after his side's 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over MK Dons, the Austrian confirmed that he knows "nothing" about a potential move for the Scotland international despite links with Italian club Udinese.

"Ross is super important for us," Struber said.

"Never. Never would I let him go. Never."

McCrorie scored the second goal during the Robins 4-1 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday.

Listen to the full post-match interview with Struber and more on BBC Sounds.

Udinese paid Motherwell £4.7m, plus add-ons, for 18-year-old Scotland midfielder Lennon Miller and have also inserted a sell-on clause in the move, with the fee setting a new record - surpassing the £3.25m Well secured from Celtic for David Turnbull in 2020. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Scotland defender Ross McCrorie could join Miller at Udinese amid interest from the Serie A club, but Norwich City and clubs in Major League Soccer are also keeping tabs on the Bristol City 27-year-old. (Chris Jack on X), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Udinese are pursuing a £4.5m deal to take Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller to Serie A having had a £2.5m offer rejected for the 18-year-old Scotland international in January. (The Herald), external

Derby County are preparing a third offer for Sturm Graz right-back Max Johnston having had bids of £1.4m and £1.6m knocked back by the Austrian champions, while Panathinaikos are closely monitoring the 21-year-old Scotland international's situation. (Sky Sports), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Scott McTominay's Ballon d'Or nomination is "not a shock" after the Scotland midfielder's "colossal" first year at Napoli, says Pat Nevin.

The 28-year-old inspired Napoli to title success, scoring 12 goals in 34 league games, and was crowned Serie A player of the year after leaving Manchester United last summer.

McTominay, the first Scot to be nominated for the men's Ballon d'Or award since Ally McCoist in 1987, is among 30 nominees and the winner will be announced on 22 September.

"It is deserved. Since he's left Manchester United, he's been absolutely colossal, that's a perfect description of McTominay," former Scotland, Everton and Chelsea winger Nevin told BBC Scotland.

"Leaving Manchester United after giving them everything and being given limited amounts in return - he very rarely played in his own position - he finally goes to a place where he's rated, he's played in his own position, and he's allowed to become the star that he should be.

"We'd be quite shocked if he was to win. But then again, they did win Serie A. He's massively, massively highly rated in Italy, and particularly in Naples.

"But you have to look around the world, what PSG and some of their players have done [winning the Champions League]. They've got nine players on that list.

"The fact that McTominay is in the discussion, it's not a shock, he's played that well. He's had such a fantastic effect."