Scotland Men's Football Team

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

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Steve Clarke is "praying" first-time call-up George Hirst can help fire Scotland to Nations League A safety and beyond as the head coach stresses the importance of staying in the top tier.

Scotland's last nine goals have been scored by midfielders, defenders or opposition players, with Lawrence Shankland's strike against Finland in a friendly last June the last time a forward found the back of the net.

Head coach Clarke is hoping the Ipswich Town forward can fix that particular problem, though he hinted the Scots may go with an experienced team in the first leg of their play-off double-header against Greece.

"It's nice to have new faces around there," Clarke said in Athens.

"A bit of youth as well, which is always good, and hopefully, a little glimpse of the future.

"But obviously, we've got the boys that have done ever so well. We've got lots of experience, lots of caps and maybe, the situation, the atmosphere here tomorrow and the opponents that we're playing needs an experienced team on the pitch."

That suggests Torino's Che Adams will lead the line for Scotland but, Hirst, who has four goals this season, timed his third perfectly when Clarke scouted him in their FA Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.

"He's good, obviously. He's a big lad," Clarke said of the 26-year-old.

"He's scored some goals recently, which is good. I've always liked him. He's similar in style and stature to Lyndon Dykes. Hopefully he can bring as much to the team as Lyndon has always brought to the team.

"He's a target player. We've always tried to have that type of forward player because we feel we've got goals in the midfield.

"I pray that George can help us to maybe score a few more goals."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

Image source, SNS

Head coach Steve Clarke has been addressing the media before Scotland's Nations League play-off first leg against Greece on Thursday.

Here are his main points from his media conference:

• Clarke says having four new faces in the squad is good and brings some freshness, but admits tomorrow maybe needs an experienced team on the pitch, given the atmosphere and the team they're facing.

• In saying that, he adds these four players "have a chance to be on the pitch."

• Having Kieran Tierney back in the squad doesn't give Clarke a headache, saying: "It's a nice problem to have, you want as many difficult choices as possible... and I have few of them."

• Tierney's return gives him food for thought as "the back four worked well last campaign".

• The head coach stressed the importance to stay in Group A because of the "work we put in to get there, we want to stay there."

• Clarke reiterated he liked Lennon Miller's "ambitious" comments, adding, "hopefully he comes into the squad and sees the level he has to get to".

• On "strong" Greece, the head coach knows their qualities, citing any team that beats England down there are a good team.

• Attacker Ryan Christie hasn't travelled due suspension, but there are no fresh problems elsewhere.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

Image source, SNS

Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic has been speaking to the media before his side's Nations League play-off first leg against Scotland on Thursday night in Athens.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Jovanovic doesn't think there's too much difference between the sides, but says Scotland have more experience of playing at a higher level, given they've played in League A and appeared at the last two Euros.

• Says Scotland have "a lot of quality players, especially in midfield". Recent results against Portugal, Croatia and Poland in their group shows the level they can compete at.

• Impressed Steve Clarke's side can "alter their play depending on opponent".

• On preparing to face Scotland four times this year, he says they will "all be interesting matches" and difficult games for both sides.

• On being without captain Tasos Bakasetas, who's injured, Jovanovic admits "missing key players is a concern".

• Konstantinos Karetsas, 17, who represented Belgium at youth level, "is a player we've followed for a while", and says the midfielder has made "an emotional decision" to chose Greece.

From John McGinn to John Carver, plenty folks have had their say on Lennon Miller's comments from last week after his debut Scotland call-up.

Including, as expected, his dad Lee.

If you're thinking he maybe put an arm around his 18-year-old's son shoulder, or gave him a clip round the lug, think again. He was right there, winding him up on his return from work.

A proud dad, he thought "respectful and confident" Lennon gave an "excellent" press conference and was struck by a bout of "word vomit" when the Motherwell midfielder said he "could maybe in a couple of months be the best player" in the Scotland squad.

"I spoke to him when I came home from work and I said, 'I listened to your interview, it was excellent, it was really good... Two months and you're going to be the best player,' and he just laughed and thought, 'Oh I know, I know, I messed up'," Lee told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"And I said 'No, you've got belief in yourself'.

"Obviously the words didn't [come out right] but that's word vomit.

"When you're put in front of that camera, when you're asked so many questions, you feel as if you have to say something and he's just blurted that out.

"He probably never thought about it at the time, but when I was winding him up about it he just kind of laughed and thought 'Aw naw'."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds.

Scotland left-back Andy Robertson, who has 80 caps, has revealed he has been winding up former Liverpool forward Kenny Dalglish over his bid to shatter his record of 102 international appearances. (Scottish Sun), external

Sheffield-born George Hirst has described his maiden Scotland call-up as a "dream come true" after switching allegiance from England, with father David, who played for England, telling the Ipswich Town 26-year-old to go make his Scottish grandfather proud. (The Scotsman), external

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, who surpassed Ally McCoist's international goals tally by scoring his 20th for Scotland to move into fifth overall, has set his sights on surpassing the all-time record of 30 held by Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Be honest, who else has been frantically trying to figure out the dangermen for Greece before Scotland face them in the Nations League play-off double-header?

Us too. So we called on Greek football expert and host of the Hellas Football Podcast, Stephen Kountourou, to give us the lowdown on the lads trying to stop Steve Clarke's side.

For Scotland, though, it'll be about trying to shackle Christos Tzolis.

The Club Brugge striker is enjoying a stellar season and impressed in his club's Champions League journey before it was ended in the last 16 by Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old netted three times for Greece in 2024, including two in the Nations League, in addition to his eight goals and five assists this season for his club.

"Tzolis is the biggest key man for Greece," Kountourou told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"He's having a very good season, barring the tie against Aston Villa in the Champions League. He didn't have the best of games in the first leg, but he's been excellent for us.

"He's brought the exact kind of creativity and dynamism on the wing that we've missed for ages."

The forward didn't feature during the failed qualifying campaign for last summer's Euros under former West Ham manager Gus Poyet.

"That was one of the big reasons why we didn't reach the tournament itself in Germany last year, because we lacked that kind of energy in our team," Kountourou added.

"He's absolutely going to be one of the key players in this tie."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds.

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John McGinn is confident Ben Doak "will be a big player" for Scotland across the next decade as the 19-year-old suffers his latest "bump in the road" with injury.

The Liverpool winger, who spent this season on loan at Middlesbrough before requiring thigh surgery, made his international debut in September and starred as Scotland found form in the Nations League.

The speedy winger was sure to play a part in this week's play-off double-header against Greece for Steve Clarke's side, but was dealt a blow earlier this month when he was ruled out for the season.

Aston Villa captain McGinn, though, has no doubt the teenager - and his "blistering pace" - will be back making an impact in the dark blue of Scotland soon.

"He's young, he is going to have bumps in the road and this is hopefully just a little bump in the road for him," the midfielder said.

"He will be a big player for us in the next 10-15 years.

"We obviously don't have the same speed as Ben. We were very fortunate to have him for the last couple of games and he showed his best performances for Scotland.

"With two brilliant performances, he certainly offered something different.

"We have pace but not the same blistering pace that Ben has, so we will have to adapt a little bit."

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We asked you for your thoughts on George Hirst's first Scotland call-up after the striker was a late addition to Steve Clarke's squad for the Nations League play-off with Greece.

Here's what some of you said:

Adrian: George is a great footballer with a lot of talent. He will be a good addition for Scotland. Pleased for the boy, he's very popular at Ipswich.

Jim: Not overly impressed by Hirst's record. I remember his father as a very good striker but was very injury prone. As Aaron Paul says, the apple does not fall far from the tree. I fear we are bringing a player on board who is injury prone and who cannot get a regular place in a team doomed to be relegated. I rest my case.

John: When I saw that Hirst was added to the Scotland squad I was amazed. He must have improved a thousand fold since he spent a year at Rotherham United in the Championship! He tried, he ran about, but didn't know where the goals were and looked very ordinary. Good luck to him if he has improved so much, but he is nowhere near as good as his father was.

Jim: About as strong a squad as we can muster presently and it's right we have a good look at Hirst. The lack of Scots playing for the Old Firm means we have to cast a wider net for new faces and Hirst is a strong contender. At 6ft 3in, given the right service, he will give us a few more options up front and at 23, he is yet to reach his peak.

Anon: Should be nowhere near the squad. Wouldn't be in least bit interested in playing for Scotland if good enough for England. Also goalscoring record hardly impressive. Sooner we scrap the grandparent rule the better.

Thomas: Oh boy. Very excited to have yet another striker who is anything but a prolific goalscorer. Just what we need. I cannot wait for our midfield to score all the goals as per usual.

Motherwell midfielder Miller and fellow 18-year-old James Wilson, the Hearts forward, are not merely in the Scotland squad to make up the numbers, says assistant coach John Carver. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Carver put celebrating Newcastle United's Carabao Cup final win on hold to focus on his Scotland duties. (Record), external

But Carver admits he would have liked to have remained in Poland as his Lechia Gdansk players are threatening a strike. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Assistant manager John Carver says "confident" Lennon Miller "needs a little bit of guidance" after the Motherwell teenager suggested he could become Scotland's best player in the near future.

The 18-year-old, who is enjoying another impressive season at Fir Park, received his first call-up to Steve Clarke's squad for this month's Nations League play-off double-header against Greece.

Following the news of his inclusion in the senior set-up, Miller said: "I'm obviously not going to go in and be the best player there, but I believe I could maybe in a couple of months be the best player there."

While assistant coach Carver believes the comments "might have been taken out of context", he says the teenage midfielder has "got to learn" from his remarks.

"I've made the same mistake a few years ago and I was a lot older than him," Carver said. "But he's a confident lad and there's nothing wrong with being confident and believing in your own ability.

"He's had a good season and he's a good player - a very, very good player - and we all make mistakes, but he's got to learn from it. The headline might have been taken out of context for sure."

Miller said he had been expecting to be named in the Scotland Under-21 squad again, but he is "confident" he is capable of starting against Greece if called upon.

"He's a young player learning and needs a little bit of guidance," Carver, who also spoke of fellow first-time call-up Hirst, added.

"I made a similar mistake when I was a lot older, so I'll talk to him and give him my experiences, but hopefully he's learned from it because I did."

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Assistant head coach John Carver addressed the media as Scotland met up for the first time this week to begin preparations for their Nations League play-off matches against Greece.

Here are they key things he said:

• Carver said "different dimension" George Hirst was "delighted" to come and join Scotland. Added it's "refreshing" to see some fresh faces.

• On Lennon Miller's comments about his potential of being the best in the squad, he said; "There's nothing wrong with being confident in your ability but we all make mistakes, and hopefully he'll learn from it after a chat".

• He added the headline "might have been taken out of context for sure".

• Carver is looking forward to an "electric atmosphere" against a "difficult and in-form Greece".

• Scotland's determination to remain in League A is high as they "need to play against the best to be the best".

• Newcastle-born Carver, who has a long association with his boyhood club said he's "the only Geordie that didn't celebrate properly" after Newcastle ended their 70-year wait for a trophy.

• He added he's "disappointed" for Andy Robertson, who was on the opposite end of the result with Liverpool, but said: "What's really good for Andy is he won't have to wait 70 years for the next trophy! They're only a few months away from picking up the Premier League and I'm sure they'll do that. Andy will have his day in May to celebrate, I'm sure."