Scotland Men's Football Team

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Head coach Steve Clarke says he has "always had an eye on" Kieron Bowie after handing the Hibernian striker his first Scotland call-up.

The 22-year-old forward has six goals in 22 appearances in all competitions for the Easter Road club this season after battling back from a hamstring injury he picked up on Under-21 duty.

"He's had a good season, Kieron is one I've always had my eye on from the Under-21s," Clarke said after naming his squad for the upcoming friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein.

"Any time I watched the Under-21s he always stood out. He's big, physical and strong with good attributes to his game.

"Going into the summer, you've got Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet, I know what they can bring, so it was just to have a look at something a little bit different and see if we can expand the pool of players.

"I keep talking about trying to get an overall bigger pool of players that we can select from and these games are a chance to look at one or two.

"You're looking for somebody to catch your eye. You want competition between them.

"That's why sometimes when you bring in some of the younger boys, the older boys are suddenly looking over their shoulder and thinking, 'aye, aye, he's thinking of something different'. It keeps them on their toes as well."

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Steve Clarke addressed the media after naming his Scotland squad for friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein in June.

Here are the key things the head coach said:

• First-time call-up Kieron Bowie is one Clarke has "always had an eye on" and has called him up to "look at something a little bit different".

• The upcoming friendlies present a "good chance" to look at "one or two" different players in the hope of expanding the pool of players available.

• With that in mind, the head coach did admit the goalkeeping department was "an area of concern" with Craig Gordon and Liam Kelly both ruled out through injury while Robbie McCrorie and Cieran Slicker have had limited minutes.

• Clarke joked he is on the search for players with "Scottish grannies".

• Clarke's assistant, John Carver, has been nominated for manager of the year in Poland and while he admits he'd "never hear the end of it" he hopes Carver wins and he can continue to serve in both posts.

• He noted that Aaron Hickey was "close to selection, but not close to playing".

Scotland forward Lawrence Shankland, 29, wants his future decided quickly as he plans discussions with expected new Hearts manager Derek McInnes. (Record), external

McInnes' input will be a key factor in Shankland's decision. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Scotland internationals Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna could leave Las Palmas following their relegation from La Liga. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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From a near career-ending injury to captaining Bologna to a Coppa Italia triumph, Lewis Ferguson has completed the most heroic of comebacks.

Vincenzo Italiano's side edged out AC Milan 1-0 to win the Coppa Italia to secure a place in next season's Europa League, and their first major trophy since 1974.

The former Hamilton Accies and Aberdeen midfielder suffered a cruciate ligament injury in April of last year that ruled him out of Scotland's Euro 2024 squad, only making his return from injury in November.

"I mean, you think about it, he's coming off the back of last season being voted in midfield of the year and [then] gets a career-threatening injury," Maurice Ross said on the Scottish Football Podcast.

"He then comes back in time, and he's now won a trophy abroad, which not many people can say they have done. I think it's a fantastic achievement."

Ross thinks attention may now turn to where Ferguson will play his football next season, with a possible move to a "bigger club" a possibility.

"And yeah, he deserves all the plaudits he's getting," Ross added

"And it'll be interesting to see what's next for him because I think he's done enough to warrant being mentioned with the bigger clubs abroad and in the UK."

Ryan Gauld's recovery from an injury picked up in March threatens to prevent the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder from taking part in Scotland's June fixtures. (Football Scotland), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has reiterated his desire to extend his long career but is yet to agree a new deal at Tynecastle.

The 42-year-old is nearing the end of his current contract and reckons the club's search for a new manager will delay a decision on his future.

"I've spoken to the club a couple of times," he told BBC Scotland.

"Obviously we don't have a manager in place at the moment, so things will probably take a little bit longer.

"We'll continue to speak and we'll see what the new manager's plans are when he comes in.

"I just want to play for as long as I can. We'll see how long that is."

Having been overlooked for Euro 2024, Gordon has once again established himself as first choice for Scotland and has no plans to retire from the international scene.

"I'll keep going as long as I possibly can," he said. "I'm really shortening up my goals and just looking one step at a time, one game at a time at the moment.

"I'll concentrate on finishing the season as strong as I can and then see what happens this summer and beyond."

On playing for Scotland, Gordon, who has 81 caps, said it was "the best feeling", explaining: "To walk out, especially at Hampden, to see that crowd and know that everyone is behind you, it's always been the best part of my career.

"I've been so lucky to do it the amount of times I have and that feeling never gets old. When you're standing singing the national anthem, to hear the stadium sing it back, I don't think there's a much better feeling you can get in football."

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Should Lennon Miller's next step be a move to the continent to follow in the footsteps of some his new Scotland team-mates?

Fresh from winning PFA Scotland's young player of the year award, speculation continues to surround the 18-year-old's future.

With just over a year remaining on the midfielder's Motherwell contract, the club will have a big decision to make if offers come their way this summer.

So, too, will Miller. Is it time for the Lanarkshire side to cash in and for the teenager to move on?

If so, would taking inspiration from the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson be beneficial?

McTominay and Gilmour are excelling at title-chasing Napoli since joining the Serie A side last summer, while Ferguson continues to thrive at Bologna.

And A View From The Terrace presenter Craig Telfer sees no reason why "phenomenal" Miller can't emulate the Scotland trio's success in Italy.

"He seems to be like the complete midfielder," Telfer said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "And I think if you're a Motherwell supporter, you're just enjoying him while you can.

"Because there's no doubt about it. If it's not this summer, if it's not in January, he'll be playing his football elsewhere.

"I really hope that if he does move on, he goes to the continent, he goes to somewhere like Italy. We're seeing the likes of McTominay and Gilmour thriving at Napoli.

"I really think Miller's got all the tools to make it out there as well."

Scotland right-back Aaron Hickey, 22, is set to return to first team action with Brentford after 18 months out. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Young player of the year nominee Lennon Miller says he's learned a lot from the "mistake" he made with his terminology that left him feeling like the world was against him.

The Motherwell midfielder's first international call-up last month was most notable for the headlines he caused by revealing he wanted to be Scotland's best player "in a few months".

What he meant to say was that in striving to be the best player he can possibly be, he hoped one day to overtake the likes of Scott McTominay, John McGinn and Billy Gilmour in the international pecking order. It's a long-term ambition, rather than a quick fix.

"That's how it was supposed to come across. I've obviously added the 'few months' bit which is a mistake on my part but I want to be the best player," said Miller.

"Whether that's with Motherwell or with Scotland, I want to be the best. The 'in a few months' was a mistake on my part but that is what I want to be.

"At the time I didn't really think anything of it and then you get the few news bulletins who've picked it up wrongly. That's different for me, I've never really had that side of things before. I just try to focus on the football side."

Thankfully for the Motherwell captain, the whole episode hasn't left a sour taste in his mouth. He now knows just how careful you have to be with your every word.

"When I found out [about the call-up], I didn't really know what to think, what to do. It was a pretty surreal moment. And then you say a few wrong words and it feels like the world's against you, basically," said Miller.

"I feel like everybody that was involved backed me and it was nice to hear a few words from people who've played and the manager as well which helped. It was a surreal moment to be involved in and hopefully I'll be back there soon."

If Miller keeps up his club form, a return to the international fold is a certainty. Despite an injury-hit campaign, there have still been flashes of the talent that propelled him into the Motherwell first team six days after his 16th birthday. Still only 18, Miller already feels more mature.

"I feel like I've come on as a player and a person in the last year," he added.

"The captain's armband has probably helped that. Getting that at such a young age, more responsibility.

"You've senior guys in there that have played a lot more games than me that probably felt they could have been the captain and it was me who was chosen, so that was a nice moment that has helped me."

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Scotland winger Ben Doak has confirmed he will miss the rest of this season with a thigh injury.

The on-loan Liverpool winger shone for Middlesbrough in the first half of the campaign, but last featured for the Championship club on 25 January.

He had surgery on his thigh in March before returning to Liverpool to undergo his rehabilitation.

The 19-year-old also missed Scotland's Nations League double header against Greece last month and has posted on Instagram to confirm his absence will extend into the summer.

"Not the way I wanted to finish this season off through injury but what a time I've had here," Doak said.

"Thanks to all the players, staff and fans at Middlesbrough for making my time at the club as good as what it was.

"I will be forever grateful and wish everyone at the club the best of luck for the future."

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Che Adams equalled the haul of goals scored by Scotland legend Denis Law at Torino with his 10th of the season against Udinese on Wednesday night.

The Scotland striker opened the scoring in the 2-0 Serie A win for the Turin side, matching the milestone his countryman set in 1961-1962.

That was the record number of goals scored by any Scot in Serie A until Bologna's Lewis Ferguson surpassed it in 2023.

Former Southampton frontman Adams will have the chance to eclipse the club record set by 'King' on Sunday, when he faces his Scotland team-mates Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour in Torino's game with Napoli.

McTominay has 10 goals for title-chasing Napoli, who moved level on points with league leaders Inter Milan at the weekend.

With 21 goals in 41 appearances this season for a struggling Dundee side, should striker Simon Murray be in the frame for a Scotland call-up for this summer's friendlies with Iceland and Liechtenstein?

The uncapped 33-year-old says playing for his country is an "ambition" but insists his full focus is on helping to keep Dundee in the Premiership.

Napoli will push hard to sign Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson, the 25-year-old Scotland international, this summer if their own captain and fellow midfielder, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, moves on. (Napoli Calcio Live), external

Brentford manager Thomas Frank says Scotland defender Aaron Hickey could make a first-team comeback before the end of the season after the 22-year-old made some B-team appearances following a 20-month injury absence that required two hamstring operations. (The Scotsman), external

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has written to Sarah Cardell, the chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), urging her to investigate "exploitative practices" in youth football after the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland and youth organisation Real Grassroots lodged complaints about the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League. (The National), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Scott McTominay's third goal in two games helped boost Napoli's title hopes as they ended the weekend only behind Serie A leaders Internazionale on goal difference.

The 28-year-old headed in a 72nd-minute Giacomo Raspadori cross to secure a win away to bottom-of-the-table Monza on Saturday.

Reigning champions Inter subsequently lost 1-0 away to Bologna on Sunday.

However, as McTominay took his tally to 10 goals for the season, fellow Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour was replaced at half-time with Frank Anguissa - the Frenchman having recovered from injury.

Bologna, who were again without injured captain Lewis Ferguson, have meanwhile moved up to fourth place, one point ahead of Juventus, who were due to visit Parma on Monday before the fixtures were postponed following the death of Pope Francis.

Another Scottish midfielder, Liam Henderson, set up Empoli's opening goal for Jacopo Fazzini as they drew 2-2 at home to Venezia in the relegation zone.

Henderson's side remain second bottom, behind Sunday's visitors on goal difference but now just a point behind Lecce, who lost 3-0 at home to Como.

Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna and striker Oli McBurnie both started as Las Palmas boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from La Liga with a 1-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Javier Munoz.

The victory lifts the Gran Canaria side above Alaves, who are one point behind in third bottom after their 1-1 draw away to Sevilla.

In England, Kieran Tierney was a 73rd-minute substitute in second-top Arsenal's 4-0 win away to Ipswich Town, with Oleksandr Zinchenko having started at left-back.

However, Liverpool remain 13 points clear after a 1-0 win away to Leicester City for which Scotland captain Andy Robertson was dropped to the bench, with Kostas Tsimikas starting at left-back.