Scotland Men's Football Team

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With the involvement of injured duo Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey at Euro 2024 very much in doubt, Steve Clarke could have a problem to solve at right-wing back.

Perhaps the Scotland boss only has to look at his previous employer to find a potential solution.

Kilmarnock's Danny Armstrong has been a standout at Rugby Park this term, playing either as a right-wing back or winger in Derek McInnes' Europe-chasing side.

The 26-year-old has provided 10 assists and scored six goals in the Premiership this term, all while creating 78 chances across 33 games.

Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, coach and analyst John Walker "could see Armstrong as a wildcard".

"I could see it just because he's got flexibility in different positions," Walker adds.

"He allows you to play him as a wing-back and he allows you to have an actual winger in the squad, which we're desperately lacking and don't have to maybe change the system.

"But I think Hickey will still be there. I know he won't have played [for Brentford], but he'll be there and he'll play."

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Could Ryan Christie's versatility ease Steve Clarke's growing injury concerns?

In the past week, Scotland midfielders Lewis Ferguson and Stuart Armstrong have both suffered blows that could rule them out of Euro 2024, while Billy Gilmour also remains out as Callum McGregor works his way back to full match sharpness.

Until this season, Christie had almost always been deployed as a winger or attacking midfielder throughout his career, but Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has used him in a deeper role this term.

Last month, Christie's underlying numbers as a midfielder were ranking him above the likes of Manchester City's Rodri and Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes in certain categories.

And Scottish coach and analysist John Walker feels Christie's recent development could be vital for Clarke.

"I always thought Christie was somebody in a Scotland squad that could be replaced in the starting 11," Walker said on the Scottish Football Podcast.

"Before the international break he was in top 10 for midfielders in Premier League for presses, overturns, high presses and pressing passers.

"And his game intelligence just appears through the roof. When I watch him, it is genuinely seeing a different player.

"He picks the ball up off centre-halves. He's normally sometimes the deepest-lying playmaker. He's creating more chances from a deeper position than he ever did.

"I think he's at the age now he's finally found a position he looks like he's been playing the whole time because he's so technically good on the ball. He looks like one of those Spanish midfielders from 2010."

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Bologna players paid tribute to stricken Scot Lewis Ferguson as they boosted the club's Champions League hopes with a stunning Serie A win at Roma on Monday night.

Ferguson's team-mates took to the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico carrying his number 19 shirt in a show of support, and also held it aloft in post-match celebrations.

Scotland midfielder Ferguson has been a driving force in Bologna's stellar season but is now watching from the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury that looks set to ruin his Euro 2024 dream.

Bologna's win put them seven points clear of fifth-place Roma, who have a game in hand.

Uefa is set to confirm nations will have 26-man squads for this summer’s European Championship in Germany.

A meeting of the European governing body’s national competitions committee voted in favour of the change, which is set to be ratified by the executive committee later this week.

Uefa had planned to revert back to 23-man squads after allowing the three-man expansion for Euro 2020 due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19.

But several international coaches were critical of 23-man squads and the suggestion to stick with 26 players arose at a recent Euro 2024 coaches meeting, where the idea gained widespread support.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has been affected by injuries with Everton's Nathan Patterson and Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson set to miss the tournament and Southampton's Stuart Armstrong also a doubt.

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Scotland are expected to be given the opportunity to select 26 players in their Euro 2024 squad after Uefa voted in favour of expanding squads from the 23-player limit. (Sky Sports), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

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Scotland right-back Nathan Patterson will require surgery and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, confirms Everton boss Sean Dyche.

The 22-year-old hobbled off in the Goodison Park club's thrashing by Chelsea on Monday, leaving his Euro 2024 hopes in doubt as part of Steve Clarke's squad.

With Aaron Hickey deemed unlikely to feature for Brentford this season, Scotland's two most favoured right-backs face a race against time to be fit for the tournament.

"He'll be out for the season," Dyche said.

"He'll need surgery, [it's a] very unfortunate injury. We're disappointed in that one for him, as well as us.

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Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson says his knee operation was a success.

The Bologna captain's involvement in Euro 2024 this summer is in doubt after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Monza.

The former Aberdeen midfielder posted a picture on Instagram of himself with team-mates Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye from his hospital bed after his surgery.

"Successful op and these guys in to give me a laugh," the 24-year-old wrote.

Ferguson has been a regular in Steve Clarke's squad over the past year.

"Devastated with today's news but that's life. I will do everything to come back better and stronger than before," he said last week.

Steven Pressley, head of player development at Aaron Hickey's club Brentford, says the right-back is "making good progress" in his recovery from a hamstring injury and is determined to be fit to feature for Scotland at Euro 2024.

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Ryan Fraser's omission from the Scotland set-up is "baffling", says Tom Deacon, the host of BBC's Saints and Sinners Southampton podcast.

The 30-year-old last featured for his national team in 2022, but has had a stellar season under Russell Martin at St Mary's.

With eight goals and three assists in all competitions, the forward has proved doubters wrong and been integral to Southampton's promotion push, according to Deacon.

"Ryan Fraser arriving at Southampton, there was a bit of trepidation," he told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"He'd fallen out of favour at Newcastle. Do we really want a player that apparently is a disruptive force?

"But he's been the complete opposite. He's galvanised our team. He's ot speed, bravery, goals. We just love him.

"And I don't know if it's allowed, but he's the wee man down in Southampton. We didn't name him that, but we've adopted him into Southampton and we want him to stay.

"As a Southampton fan, watching Ryan Fraser play so well in the Championship, I'm just baffled why he wouldn't be a potential squad player for Scotland.

"Just someone who can again come off the bench and turn things up, because that's what he's done in the Championship.

"He's had match-winning goals. I think it was at Millwall, came on, got us the win and we absolutely love and adore him for that. I'm just curious why he would have fallen out of favour, because we love him."

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The "devastating timing" of Lewis Ferguson's serious injury is likely to rule the Bologna midfielder out of the Euros, says Italian football journalist Alasdair MacKenzie.

Ferguson's season appears to be over after the 24-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the weekend, which could prove to be a blow to both club and country.

"Lewis himself, the club and the fans were hoping that it wasn't going to be quite as serious an injury as it is, but for now that's his season over," MacKenzie told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"That chance of going to the Euros is over and to be honest, it's just really devastating timing for the guy considering how incredible the season he has just had.

"Bologna have never qualified for the Champions League before, so for them to be where they are is already fairly miraculous in itself, ahead of much better funded teams and bigger names than they'll necessarily have.

"They've been playing really good football too, but Ferguson has been completely at the heart of that. He's started every single game so far this season.

"He's really the all-round package because he's offering that leadership role, but he has been covering a lot of distance. I think he's still the second most [distance covered], on average, of any player in Serie A.

"[He's] someone who has attracted interest from Juventus. That's been talked about quite a lot recently, but a lot of big clubs in Italy are supposed to be looking at him as well.

"That's the double-edged sword with this - not only the fact that it's season's over, but obviously that puts a lot of doubt into what the future holds."

Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland

It's just over eight weeks until Scotland kick off Euro 2024 with host nation Germany in Munich.

Which reminds me, I really need to order my kilt.

But before that, let's have a gander at how Steve Clarke's hopefuls are getting on as they look to rubberstamp their spot on the plane.

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Unfortunately, we have to start with the bad news. Lewis Ferguson's summer plans are in disarray with the Bologna captain set to undergo surgery for an injury to his cruciate ligament.

The 24-year-old midfielder was subbed off in the 62nd minute of his Champions League-chasing side's goalless draw with Monza on Saturday.

His recovery time is to be assessed after the operation, but it looks highly unlikely Ferguson will be fit for the Euros.

Nathan Patterson also hobbled off as Everton were battered by Chelsea on Monday night, with the extent of his injury yet to be revealed.

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Let's look on the brighter side with one of Scotland's great personalities, who just so happens to be an outstanding footballer.

John McGinn absolutely bossed title contenders Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon as Aston Villa set a new club record for most Premier League wins in a season (19).

He wasn't the only Scot to dictate things in the middle of the park in the English top flight last weekend. Ryan Christie was named player of the match as his Bournemouth side played out a frantic draw with Manchester United, with the former Celtic man winning the most duels of any player on the park.

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It's not often two Scotland internationals score in the same game down south, but that's exactly what happened in Southampton's thrilling win over Watford.

Che Adams gave the Saints a two-goal lead with a stabbed finish, before Ryan Porteous pulled one back for the visitors when his piledriver was deflected into the back of the net.

A far more regular occurrence is Lawrence Shankland getting on the scoresheet for Hearts. The Scottish Premiership's top scorer did so again courtesy of a penalty in a 4-2 over Livingston on Saturday, while also grabbing two assists.

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Less impressive was the Tynecastle goalkeeper though, as Craig Gordon perhaps displayed some ring rust in his first league start in 16 months. The veteran goalkeeper was caught in no man's land for Livingston's opener as Zander Clark watched on from the bench.

Elsewhere in between the sticks, Liam Kelly impressed in Motherwell's 1-1 draw with Hibs, while Angus Gunn notched his 11th clean sheet of the English Championship season in Norwich City's 1-0 win at Preston North End.

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Lewis Ferguson's involvement in this summer's Euros is in doubt after the Scotland midfielder was diagnosed with a cruciate ligament injury.

The Bologna captain was substituted during Saturday's goalless draw against Monza, and will now undergo an operation on his knee.

"Devastated with today's news but that's life," Ferguson wrote on Instagram.

"I will do everything to come back better and stronger than before. Thank you all for the support. See you soon."

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Aaron Hickey may not feature for the rest of the domestic season, says Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

The Scotland international has been missing since suffering an injury in the London side's 2-0 over capital rivals Chelsea in October.

Steve Clarke's side don't boast a favourable record without the right-back, who last featured for Scotland in the 2-0 loss to Spain in Seville.

That result has been followed up by three defeats and two draws - though Scotland had already qualified for the Euros ahead of their final two qualifiers, before friendlies with The Netherlands and Northern Ireland.

Hickey's position on the plane to Germany could be in question, with the possibility the defender will have gone eight months without a competitive game when Scotland kick-off against Germany on 14 June.

Frank said: “I think I saw him run out on the grass today. I don’t expect him to be available before the end of the season so it’s a big positive if he is.”

Norwich City defender Grant Hanley is hopeful of a return from injury in time to make Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for Euro 2024.

Hanley, who has been capped 48 times for his country, has only been involved in nine games this campaign after a disrupted return from a serious Achilles injury sustained at the end of last season.

"It might sound a bit cliche, but you've got to be playing at your club, and you’ve got to be playing well," Hanley told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"I've not got much time to do that, but hopefully I can get back involved before the end of the season. Hopefully I can get involved with the play-offs and let's see what happens.

"The decision was ‘do I carry on not being able to perform, or do I take a step back and improve physically?’

"I've experienced a major competition before with Scotland and the downside to that one was it was during Covid when the stadium capacities were majorly reduced.

"It was still an unbelievable experience, probably one of the best experiences of my career, but this one's proper, playing the hosts in the opening game in Munich.

"So obviously that would be an unbelievable thing to be involved in."

Arsenal plan to sell left-back Kieran Tierney on the 26-year-old Scotland international's return from his season-long loan with Real Sociedad. (TeamTalk), external

Tierney, who has two years left of his contract, has no idea what his future holds at the end of his spell with Sociedad and pointed out that William Saliba is the only player who has been sent away on loan by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta then returned as a starter. (TalkSport), external

Lawrence Shankland insists he does not have nightmares about his miss while playing for Scotland in the 4-0 defeat by the Netherlands. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

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With Andy Robertson and Billy Gilmour both currently out injured, there were fewer Scotland internationals on show in the Premier League over the weekend, but a couple still managed to catch the eye.

John McGinn set up Ollie Watkins' opener for Aston Villa on Saturday, but their thrilling 3-3 draw with Brentford saw them drop out of the league's top four, after Spurs beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

We mentioned Oli McBurnie last week and he found the net again for Sheffield United, with his dramatic late goal earning Chris Wilder's side a point against Chelsea at Bramall Lane.

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In the English Championship, Che Adams came off the bench during Southampton's disappoint goalless draw away to Blackburn Rovers, while his compatriot Stuart Armstrong missed the trip to Ewood Park with a concussion.

Angus Gunn and Kenny McLean both started as Norwich City beat Ipswich Town 1-0 in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road, a result which helps the Canaries' push for a play-off spot.

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Meanwhile, Lewis Ferguson's Bologna side drew 0-0 away to Frosinone in Serie A, but remain on course to finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.