Scotland Men's Football Team

We asked for your thoughts after Steve Clarke announced his Scotland squad for the upcoming friendlies.

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

Russell: I have a rather uneasy feeling about the inclusion of Craig Gordon, with him being 41 years old. I think that Angus Gunn is a proven goalie, the other two lads are young and are very good indeed. I think there is a rather big question mark about Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams who have had chances galore.

Roshan: I was hoping he'd take someone like Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie in the team to see if he can make the step up as the striker position is the weakest area in the team. Maybe give him something like 25 minutes in the Netherlands game and then 45 minutes in the Northern Ireland game.

Jim: Disgraceful decision not to give Ryan Hardie the opportunity to show what he can do. It's not as though we are drowning in goal scorers and Hardie has been consistent for several seasons.

Rob: Minus Callum McGregor and Aaron Hickey, it's as strong as this squad is going to get. No superstars like previous generations but the teams Steven Clarke puts together all work as a unit.

Gavin: Can't believe Liam Cooper from Leeds is included, and only three forwards, really? Tommy Conway should have been given a chance and even Hardie at Plymouth who has been scoring. I thought Ross McCrorie at Bristol City could have been called up to replace Hickey.

D: All those goalkeepers - what a negative squad. It’s goal scorers we need not bench warmers, two keepers is enough to take to Germany.

Graeme: We’re honestly spoiled for choice and it puts us in a really strong position. Having seen Gordon’s return and Lawrence Shankland at Morton, I have to say I’m feeling confident about the depth of the squad. Not even to mention talent like Lewis Ferguson and veterans of the Euros and world cup campaign. Can't wait for Germany.

Neil: Not a bad squad but picking Gordon must be a slap in the face for younger keepers. He can’t get into Hearts' Premiership team so shouldn’t be in Scotland's.

Scotland Under-21 cap Stephen McGinn reflects on Lewis Ferguson's league form for Bologna, and his chances of breaking into the national team's starting line-up.

What did you make of Steve Clarke's Scotland squad to take on the Netherlands and Northern Ireland?

Are you pleased to see Craig Gordon back? Were you hoping for more experimentation in the lead-up to the Euros?

Have your say here.

Image source, Getty Images

Angus Gunn, John McGinn, Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay have been named as the four nominees for the Scottish Football Writers Association Men's International Player of the Year award, external.

The award factors in all games since and including the Euro 2024 qualifiers in June 2023.

Napoli are interested in signing Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson and are ready to rival Juventus for the 24-year-old's services, while Milan, Inter and Lazio have contacted the Scotland midfielder's agent. (Record), external

Arsenal will look to sell Kieran Tierney this summer despite Real Sociedad's desire to retain the Scotland defender on loan next season and Aston Villa and Celtic are monitoring the 26-year-old's position. (TeamTalk), external

Archie Gray, who has impressed in midfield and at right-back for Leeds United, is being advised by his family not to switch his allegiance from England yet, despite the 17-year-old's grandfather and grandfather's brother having played for Scotland. (TeamTalk), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

We asked who you would like to see given a chance by Steve Clarke to impress for Scotland in the friendlies against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.

Here are some of the names you came up with:

Craig: Liam Lindsay is doing really well in central defence for Preston North End.

Anon: With Callum McGregor often having influence in the middle of the park and a slew of regulars, there is the need to bed Lewis Ferguson into the team. And I will add one missing name: Ryan Gauld. Both Ferguson and Gauld need some game time in the upcoming friendlies. Sure, we have Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie, Ryan Jack, Stuart Armstrong and Kenny McLean, but Ferguson and Gauld are poised to surpass these later midfielders if they already haven't.

Sean: Give Ryan Hardie a chance at this level.

Calum: Shankland is a must again for the friendlies, and I'd like to see new goalkeepers tested - not Zander Clark, David Marshall or even Craig Gordon, who can't even break back into the Hearts team yet. Lewis Ferguson at Bologna should start, and I want to see more from Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson in defence.

Craig: Ryan Gauld.

Daniel: Lawrence Shankland must be given a start.

Supporters are urging South Lanarkshire Council to restore a statue of former Motherwell and Scotland winger Davie Cooper in Hamilton, or move it to Rangers' Ibrox Stadium, where he also played. (Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip

Could Scotland's friendlies against The Netherlands and Northern Ireland be an opportunity for Steve Clarke to experiment with his squad ahead of the summer's Euros?

Go on, tell us your wildcards. Who would you like to see given a chance to impress and perhaps earn a seat on the plan to Germany.

Let's hear them.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Craig Gordon still hopes to go the Euro 2024 finals this summer with Scotland despite experiencing the frustration of sitting on Heart of Midlothian's bench since returning from a year out with a broken leg.

The 41-year-old goalkeeper has played just twice - against Spartans and Airdrieonians in the Scottish Cup - but could be in line to face Greenock Morton in Monday's quarter-final.

"I want to play as many games as possible," Gordon said. "We still have nine games lefty in the league and we have the cup game on Monday.

"I have played the last two rounds, so hopefully I will get the nod this time in that one."

For league games, head coach Steven Naismith has stuck by Zander Clark, who had been Gordon's understudy until the veteran's injury but whose form has led to a place in the national squad.

"I'm focused on myself," Gordon added. "I want to go out there and perform at every opportunity. Hopefully that’s Monday.

"I’m training to get myself ready for that and, if selected, to go out and put on a good shadow and catch the eye of the Scotland manager. That's a huge thing I would like to be part of.

"I feel as if I am training really well. My body is in a good place, so all I can do is be ready. I feel as if I’ve been doing that and taking my opportunities."

Liverpool are interested in appointing Richard Hughes as sporting director after the 44-year-old former Scotland midfielder confirmed he will leave his position as Bournemouth's technical director at the end of the season. (Times - subscription required), external

Hughes is more likely to go to Newcastle United than Liverpool as sporting director when he leaves Bournemouth. (Independent), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

Rome-based journalist Alasdair Mackenzie has poured praise on "all-round package" Lewis Ferguson as the Scotland midfielder continues to shine in Serie A for Bologna.

The former Aberdeen man has six goals and five assists in all competitions this season, and has captained I Rossoblu since October in what has been a remarkable campaign.

They have won their last six league games and currently sit fourth in Italy's top flight, above the likes of Roma, Lazio and Napoli.

"He's been a sensation," Mackenzie told the Scottish Football Podcast. "He's been one of the biggest sensations of the biggest sensation in Serie A.

"He's just scored a winning goal against Atalanta over the weekend, a game that was fourth v fifth. That was a huge result for Bologna, put them four points clear in fourth place.

"They've never qualified for the Champions League before, and suddenly they're in this amazing spot. Their coach Thiago Motta has really been the mastermind of this happening, but Lewis Ferguson's his guy, his go-to guy."

Motta - who won two Champions Leagues as a player at Barcelona and Inter Milan - has also given Ferguson glowing praise.

Mackenzie added: "[Motta] said after the [Atalanta] match, 'It doesn't matter about the goal. I always give this guy 10 out of 10 every week anyway, because he's such a warrior'.

"When you look at the league stats, he's got the second highest average distance covered.

"Even if you look at a team sheet and he's down as a number 10, he's not really sitting as a number 10 throughout a game, he's covering every area of the pitch.

"He's really been the all-around package because he's been scoring goals, he's been creating goals, he's been working in both phases, defensively and in attack.

"He's been incredible really, considering this is only his second season playing in an entirely new league, and in a quite a sophisticated style of football under Motta. It's been an incredibly successful move for him."

• Listen to the full episode of the podcast here.

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Scotland legend Graeme Souness has praised Lewis Ferguson's decision move to Italy, comparing it to his own experience living there.

Souness, 70, spent two seasons in Genoa with Sampdoria after leaving Liverpool and before joining Rangers.

“He's living in a great country," Souness said. "I lived there for two years and it was just the most wonderful experience.

"Different culture, different approach to football. Whenever he comes back, wherever he goes back, he'll be richer for the experience."

Since joining Bologna in 2022, Ferguson has impressed and has now been linked with move to Italian giants like Juventus and Napoli.

"For a young fellow to be living in Italy, living the dream and I'm sure he's loving every minute of it. When he does come back, he'll be a very different human being, not just in football, but a very different human being to the one that left.

"He's there, he's embracing it, the fact they've made him captain would suggest he can communicate with his team-mates. It's a real achievement."

Ferguson was just 22 when he made the move from Aberdeen, having already made his debut for Scotland. He now has 10 caps for his national side.

"I went as an old boy, at 31," Souness added. "It changed me, it changed my outlook on life, not just in football when I lived there - more than anywhere else I've lived. Italy is a great country and I like Italians very much, not just their food and wine. It's a special county."

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor misses a league match for the first time this season, and manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested he will not be involved for the Scotland friendlies against Netherlands and Northern Ireland later this month.

The Scotland midfielder was replaced at half-time in the 7-1 demolition of Dundee after feeling pain in the Achilles area.

"We have to be cautious with Callum (McGregor) because he's such an influential player for us," Rodgers told BBC Scotland at Tynecastle.

"Hopefully, he will only miss a game or two. He's got another scan on Wednesday just to see exactly how bad it is."

On his chances of featuring for his country at the end of the month he added, "I don't think so," he says. "He'll probably need some rest and recovery."

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay could be set for a Manchester United exit after new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly signed off on an 11-player clear out this summer. (Football Scotland), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip