Scotland Men's Football Team

Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland

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Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson believes the timing of his ACL injury has given him more motivation to reach the 2026 World Cup.

The 25-year-old was certain to be part of Steve Clarke's side for last summer's European Championships, but suffered a season-ending knee injury a few months before.

"It's really difficult, it's half the challenge when you're recovering from such a bad injury, some days are more mental than physical," the former Aberdeen and Hamilton Accies midfielder said.

"It's a long rehab, it's a long process, you have to be mentally prepared to have good days and to have bad days, you've just go the end goal in sight and you need to focus on that and stay strong.

"It's really important to stay mentally strong to get you through the tough days.

"I had the injury just before the Euros which was sad and really disappointing, but it gives me a little more motivation to go and try to push to qualify for the World Cup."

Since returning in November, Ferguson has captained Bologna four times in the Champions League and led his side to a famous win over Borussia Dortmund.

He's now keen to add more starting caps for his country and, following the international retirement of Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor, could be in line for a key role in Steve Clarke's side.

"I've always been confident of trying to get as much minutes as possible, nothing's changed," Ferguson explained.

"I feel good now and nothing's changed, I feel back to normal, and I'm playing well at the minute, so I'm looking forward to going in and catching the manager's eye for a starting place."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

There had been plenty of talk about the inclusion of Lennon Miller in Scotland squads before, but James Wilson's name took plenty by surprise.

The striker, who only turned 18 last week, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Hearts and his ascent to the national team - while he still sits his Highers at school - emphasises just how meteoric his rise has been.

Although Wilson made his debut just over a year ago in a Scottish Cup win over Spartans, eagle-eyed fans spotted him in pre-season back in 2023 when he made an impressive cameo against Leeds United.

However, it was really in the first Edinburgh derby of this season that he made his name.

In only Neil Critchley's third game in charge, Wilson was thrown on at Easter Road with Hearts trailing, in desperate search of a goal. Wilson found it, popping up in the right place at the right time to turn home a long throw.

He has gone on to make 24 appearances this campaign, scoring six goals - including a double at Ross County - and contributing two assists.

It could have been a hat-trick, too, in Dingwall as Hearts were awarded a penalty and Wilson stood patiently with the ball tucked under his arm. Sadly for him, the decision was overturned, a mistake the Scottish FA subsequently admitted.

Wilson has started 11 of Hearts' 12 past league games, becoming a vital cog in the turnaround of league form that has given Critchley's side a shot at the top six.

Only Lawrence Shankland and Blair Spittal have scored and created more, although they have also played almost 1,000 more than Wilson.

Perhaps his most impressive stat is his shot conversion. From 13 efforts, Wilson has scored five - the best conversion rate in the league. He picks and chooses when he's going to pull the trigger, and doesn't often miss.

The teenager was called up to the Scotland Under-19s in September last year, having been capped at previous age grades.

He remains eligible for Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and England but has said previously: "I was born in Scotland, I feel Scottish."

Now he has the chance to become the youngest Scotland player since Tom Wylie in 1890 - and the third youngest of all time.

If you're worried about nerves, just look at Hearts' Scottish Cup win over St Mirren a few weeks ago. The game had gone to penalties, and Wilson stepped up first for the visitors.

Made to wait by goalkeeper Zach Hemming's mind games, he juggled the ball between his hands before placing it on the spot, taking a few steps back, and rocketing it into the top right corner.

Cool, calm, and composed, Wilson has it all to make himself a Scotland regular for years to come.

We asked for your views on Steve Clarke's Scotland squad selection for the Nations League play-off with Greece.

Here's what some of you said:

Peter: Don't understand what Lawrence Shankland has done to annoy the coach. Even when not scoring, his link-up play and football intelligence is some of the best out there. Would be one of the first names in the squad for me.

Colin: There is still a lack of wide players in this squad, that makes us predictable, surely there must be someone we can find with pace? Ben Doak is a huge miss as he gives us something different. Without pace and a real scoring threat up front it will be down to the usual midfield to produce a goal. Greece are difficult to break down and have pace up top so I am concerned.

Ryan: Thin looking squad, exciting to see youngsters in to train with the main team, great experience for them. Wouldn't be surprised to see a five at the back with the lack of natural width further up the pitch, especially in the first game away from home. Be a good indication of the main games when qualifying to see what Greece are all about.

Scot: I am a Hearts fan but am surprised at James Wilson's inclusion. He has done well so far and has a maturity way beyond his years but is that enough to warrant selection? I know we have real quality players at left-back but James Penrice deserves selection. He is the ideal successor and replacement for Andy Robertson if he gets injured or suspended.

Hazel: I am pleased to see that Stevie and the coaching staff are beginning to think more strategically in 2025 and planning for the World Cup by introducing two to four new players. This will invariably create a blend of young talent with the senior squad and will hopefully provide a platform to allow them to grow in future games for Scotland.

William: Can't understand why Kenny McLean always gets called up, there's better midfield options who are younger and will bring a freshness to the midfield.

Iain: At last we have some more young players in the squad. Doak has shown if you're good enough then your old enough. Not sure they will get a game before old standby McLean or Che Adams but we need to start building for the next phase.

Tom: Good to see the younger lads getting a well deserved call-up. I think without Doak, we won't have much width when attacking though which could see us reverting to a back three again, not sure how to feel about that!

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke says Ipswich striker George Hirst could still play a part in the Nations League play-off with Greece after a delay in formalising his call up stopped him from being named in the initial squad.

The 26-year-old has played 19 times for the Premier League side this season, mainly as a substitute, scoring three times.

"It's possible - there was a delay in the paperwork," Clarke said when asked about the England-born striker's involvement.

"There's still games to go before we meet up as a squad. There's always the chance of somebody else getting injured.

"Hopefully not, because I think we've suffered enough of that. George is somebody we've had in mind for a few months. I've watched him recently.

"He's in and out of the Ipswich team, played the cup games. He obviously scored against Forest. I think I was spotted on the telly at the game.

"It didn't take a genius to work out who I was there to watch, because he was the only one that qualified for Scotland who was on the pitch.

"He's a player that would help to give us more depth to that position if we can do it."

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Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media after naming his Scotland squad to face Greece in the Nations League play-off.

Here are the key lines from the Scotland boss:

• Clarke says 18-year-olds James Wilson and Lennon Miller, who have both been called up for the first time, are "two for the future, but also can help us just now".

• He adds: "Obviously a lot of call-offs, a lot of injuries, especially in middle to forward areas, so I just felt it was a chance to have a look at two young boys who've caught the eye."

• Clarke confirms there was competition from Northern Ireland - whom Wilson qualifies for through his father - for the Hearts striker.

• The Scotland manager says Miller "plays with maturity beyond his years" and can fill different midfield roles while Wilson is "someone who catches your eye, he runs behind, he looks to score goals, which is a great trait. We're always looking for goalscorers, he's got a few this year".

• Clarke insists the pair's inclusion "shows as well that we're always looking at the younger ones", noting that Aaron Hickey "came from nowhere and became a big part of the squad".

• "A delay in the paperwork" prevented the inclusion of Ipswich striker George Hirst. Clarke adds: "George is somebody we've had in mind for a few months. I've watched him recently. He's a player that would help to give us more depth to that position if we can do it."

• On a "big year" for Scotland, Clarke says: "We all understand how much everybody in the country wants to go to a World Cup. So come the autumn, those games are massive. But before we get there, it's also big games. We want to stay at the [Nations League] top level, we want to be competitive against the top teams, and to do that we're going to have to beat a good Greece side over two games."

• On Greece, Clarke says they are a good team, solid defensively and dangerous on the counter, adding: "I think any team that goes to Wembley and beats England is always going to catch your eye, so we expect two tough games."

• On picking Kevin Nisbet over Lawrence Shankland, Clarke says: "I could have chosen both, but obviously Kevin scored a couple of goals recently. Sometimes when a striker starts scoring goals it becomes a habit, so hopefully with Kevin that's the case."

• With Angus Gunn out injured, Clarke admits the choice of goalkeepers to play understudy to Craig Gordon "wasn't great because most of them don't play" but adds of uncapped Cieran Slicker: "He's not playing at Ipswich, but he's a young one, so he's one that I'll keep in and around the squad. He's good around the group."

Who saw that one coming?

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has staged a major surprise by handing debut Scotland call-ups to 18-year-olds Lennon Miller and James Wilson for this month's play-off games with Greece.

Striker Wilson is yet to play for Scotland Under-21s but has netted six goals so far in his breakthrough season at Hearts, while Miller has captained Motherwell and made his 67th appearance in the recent win over Rangers at Ibrox.

There are recalls for fit-again Lewis Ferguson and Kieran Tierney as well as striker Kevin Nisbet, who has five goals in his past six Aberdeen outings, while uncapped pair Max Johnston of Sturm Graz and Ipswich goalkeeper Cieran Slicker also make the cut.

What do you make of Clarke's selection - happy with his show of faith in youth? Is there anyone omitted who should be in?

Let us know your thoughts, external

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Greece have called up 17-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas for the first time to their squad for this month's Nations League play-off double-header against Scotland after the Genk midfielder turned his back on Belgium.

Genk-born Karetsas, who has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid and according to his father rejected an offer from Manchester City, had played for the land of his birth from under-15 level and made his debut for Belgium Under-21s in October.

Karetsas has been included in head coach Ivan Jovanovic's 26-man squad, but captain Tasos Bakasetas, the 31-year-old midfielder, is missing after sitting out Panathinaikos' latest four games.

Copenhagen centre-half Pantelis Chatzidiakos, Standard Liege midfielder Sotiris Alexandropoulos, Slavia Prague midfielder Christos Zafeiris, Asteris Tripoli winger Tasos Chatzigiovanis and Panathinaikos forward Fotis Ioannidis all return after missing out against Finland in November.

There is again no place for former Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, now playing for Cruz Azul in Mexico.

Greece squad to face Scotland

Goalkeepers: Odysseas Vlachodimos (Newcastle United), Konstantis Tzolakis (Olympiakos), Christos Mandas (Lazio).

Defenders: Kostas Tsimikas (Liverpool), Pantelis Chatzidiakos (Copenhagen), Dinos Mavropanos (West Ham United), Dimitris Giannoulis (Augsburg), Lazaros Rota (AEK Athens), Panos Retsos (Olympiacos), Dinos Koulierakis (Wolfsburg), Giorgos Vagiannidis (Panathinaikos).

Midfielders: Petros Mantalos (AEK Athens), Dimitris Kourbelis (Al-Khaleej), Dimitris Pelkas (PAOK), Manolis Siopis (Panathinaikos), Giannis Konstantelias (PAOK), Sotiris Alexandropoulos (Standard Liege), Christos Zafeiris (Slavia Prague), Christos Mouzakitis (Olympiacos), Konstantinos Karetsas (Genk).

Forwards: Giorgos Masouras (Bochum), Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica), Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge), Tasos Douvikas (Como), Tasos Chatzigiovanis (Asteras Tripolis), Fotis Ioannidis (Panathinaikos).

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The Scottish FA have not yet completed the necessary paperwork to call up Sheffield-born Ipswich Town forward George Hirst, the 26-year-old forward who represented England at age grade level. (Sun), external

Bologna's Lewis Ferguson and Everton's Nathan Patterson are expected to be recalled to the Scotland squad for this month's Nations League play-off matches with Greece. (Record), external

Hearts' Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 42, says "everything" will shape the decision on his future, including his international involvement and his physical condition. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Scottish striker Robbie Ure, 21, will be traveling to Sweden in order to complete a move from Anderlecht to IK Sirius. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Kilmarnock teenager Bobby Wales is an "elite striker" who should be fast-tracked into the Scotland squad along with Hearts forward James Wilson.

That's the view of Scottish coach and football analyst John Walker, who would rather see Wales, 19, and 18-year-old Wilson named in Steve Clarke's squad on Tuesday for the looming Nations League play-off with Greece than Ipswich Town's George Hirst, who has been linked with a call-up.

"Anyone that's seen Wales play football up close knows he has absolutely everything, he is an elite striker and should be playing at the level that Hirst is playing at," said Walker on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The more you see of Wales the more I'm impressed, he's got everything, absolutely everything.

"He's an aggressive presser, he's got pace, he's brilliant at bringing people into play, he's got a great finish, he's really composed in front of goal.

"Him and Wilson, the sooner you get them into the squad, the sooner those two progress their careers, because the reality for Scottish football needs to be that we are feeder clubs for bigger stepping stones.

"Wilson and Wales are people that will feature in the national side going forward, I think you just get them in now.

"You're just kicking the can down to get Hirst in at 26, 27, for him to potentially be around for four years.

"At some point you need to stop, but this is the problem. Steve Clarke's got the carrot in front of him of you need to get to a World Cup, so maybe he's looking at it only in this cycle alone and [thinks] Hirst gives me the best chance to do that just now."

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Luke McCowan says he hopes a Scotland call-up is "on the horizon" should he continue impressing for Celtic, but isn't expecting one in the near future.

Head coach Steve Clarke will name his squad for the two-legged Nations League play-off against Greece next week, and some supporters and pundits have suggested the midfielder should be selected.

But the 27-year-old is not getting his hopes up.

"Maybe not a target this season," he said of making Clarke's team.

"It's something that's hopefully on the horizon at one point, but as I've said before, it's not something that's jumping out at me.

"If it comes along, it comes along. I'm at a great club. I'm playing most weeks and I'm enjoying that.

"If that comes along, I'm sure I'll be happy, but it's about focusing on Celtic just now."

McCowan and his team-mates have been able to do that more this past week than recent times have allowed, due to not playing midweek.

The former Dundee man admitted he had to "push through" some gruelling weeks amid a packed fixture schedule, but knows he's come out the other end stronger for it.

"It's actually something I was thinking of this week, now that it's passed, I was like, that was a tough couple of months," he added.

"It's the first time I've felt it. This mentality, getting your body used to it, getting your mind used to it, is something that I obviously got through now, but I'm glad I pushed myself through that. You test yourself with it.

"If I was to get called up, I know I'd be able to deal with it a lot better than what I would in previous years. If it does come along, I know I'll be ready for it mentally, physically and tactically.

"Hopefully it does come along, but if it doesn't, it's not something that's going to get to me."

Everton manager David Moyes has warned Nathan Patterson he must "step up" if he wants to force his way back into the first-team after returning from injury with the 23-year-old right-back's Scotland call-up hopes also hanging in the balance. (The Herald), external

Josh Edwards is hopeful his impressive start with League One promotion chasers Charlton Athletic after the 24-year-old right-back's January transfer from Dunfermline Athletic will eventually lead to a Scotland call-up. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie may require surgery in the summer to resolve a "chronic" groin problem, says Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

Christie has been a key player for the Cherries, who sit seventh in the Premier League, starting 24 of their 27 games while managing his injury.

However, the 30-year-old missed last week's FA Cup penalty shootout win against Wolves and could also be missing for the trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

Christie is set to be part of the Scotland squad for this month's two-legged Nations League play-off against Greece.

"Ryan's (injury) is something chronic," Iraola said.

"He's dealing with some pain and I think it's a situation that we will have to manage day by day.

"I'm not ruling him out, I trust Ryan a lot. He knows his body. Sometimes he's feeling OK and he trains and says, 'I'll give it a go', sometimes he's in some pain.

"So, it's not an easy situation to deal with during the season. Probably he needs some rest, but obviously he wants to continue playing.

"We will continue to deal with it. We are probably thinking about surgery or something like this and it's better for everyone if it's in the summer.

"But I'm not Ryan Christie and he has to see how he feels. If he can play or can't play, decisions with the doctor, but he's pretty good at managing it."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Throughout his Scotland tenure, Steve Clarke has never been blessed with a full, fit and firing forward line.

Now is no different.

While Che Adams is still enjoying life out in Italy, Lyndon Dykes is injured, Lawrence Shankland is struggling to hit last season's heights and Tommy Conway is still in the infancy of his international career.

With a crucial Nations League A two-legged play-off against Greece to come later this month, Clarke headed out on a scouting mission to catch Ipswich Town's George Hirst in FA Cup action against Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old, son of former Sheffield Wednesday forward David, headed in the opener at the City ground, with Clarke in the stands.

It was his third goal of the season, with his only Premier League goal coming in a 4-3 defeat to Brentford in October, but he's been playing second fiddle to Liam Delap.

Hirst, a former England Under-20 international, qualifies for Scotland through his paternal grandfather, and, according to BBC 5 Live presenter Aaron Paul, "offers something different" to what Scotland already have.

"He's a very, very different kind of player to the likes of someone like a Conway, and definitely different to someone like an Adams or a Kevin Nisbet. So why not?" Paul told BBC Scotland.

"He's 6ft 3in, powerful, mobile and intelligent. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He's the son of David Hirst, the former Sheffield Wednesday striker, so he's got the pedigree.

"But he's a thinker, and he's someone who's had to work really hard for his opportunities."

Hirst has missed nearly two months of this season with a knee injury, having also missed a chunk of The Tractor Boys' promotion campaign last term.

"They haven't been minor little injuries, they've been big setbacks," Paul added.

"But he's committed, he plays in a high-octane Kieran McKenna side who like to press hard from the front. He's a big unit and he'll use his size. He's not a raw goalscorer, he's not a pure all-rounder, but he's someone who will press well."

Paul confirmed McKenna was unaware of the Scotland head coach's presence at their game against Forest, but the Northern Irishman said: "Scotland is something that George definitely wants to explore.

"I just think this could be a fantastic opportunity if others are somewhat struggling, or if there is an opportunity there, to take it and grasp it with both hands."

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Ipswich Town forward George Hirst, 26, could be given his first Scotland call-up for this month's Nations League play-off matches with Greece. (Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Aaron Hickey played the first 45 minutes for Brentford Under-21s as they won 2-0 against Birmingham City Under-21s in the Professional Development League.

The full-back made his first Brentford appearance since October 2023 and combined with Isaac Holland before curling an effort into the top corner.

The Scotland international will hope to build on his positive return as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Hickey joined Brentford from Bologna in July 2022 and signed a new contract with the Bees last month, committing his future to the club until 2028.

Before his injury, he had been a key part of Brentford's defence, making 37 appearances for Thomas Frank's side.