Steve Clarke is being tipped to take his success with Premiership outfit Kilmarnock into his Scotland tenure.

"What he's done at club level is incredible and very under-valued," says Scotland striker Steven Naismith.

"In years to come, we'll look back and see how well he's done. He's been unbelievable and I don't think he could've done any more with Kilmarnock.

"For me as a Scotland player, he's a great appointment and I think the whole country is united in that."

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In Steve Clarke's first team selection as Scotland head coach, Eamonn Brophy, who served him so well at Kilmarnock, goes straight into the starting line-up.

He leads the line, while David Marshall's recall to the squad leads to a starting place for the Hull City goalkeeper.

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Fit-again Charlie Mulgrew is back in central defence, Celtic's James Forrest is on the wing and John McGinn is in midfield.

Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain drops to the bench along with Southampton's Stuart Armstrong and striker Johnny Russell from the side that started the 2-0 win over San Marino. David Bates and Callum Paterson didn't make the squad.

• Scotland have won their five previous encounters with Cyprus by an aggregate score of 20-4
• This is the first competitive meeting between the sides since a World Cup 1990 qualifier in April 1989 in which Scotland won 2-1
• Cyprus have conceded 10 goals in their two games in Scotland, losing 0-8 in May 1969 and 1-2 in April 1989
• The last Scotland manager to win his first game in charge was Gordon Strachan against Estonia in February 2013

bringthemonjpn: Scotland will be looking to replicate the famous 1968 World Cup qualifier 8-0 win against Cyprus. Lots of M'Cs in our starting line up..Could be on

"We come from a big family," Steve Clarke's brother Paul tells BBC Scotland's Off The Ball.

"I'm the eldest of eight.There were three boys: myself, Stephen and Michael.

"Stephen hasn't changed - see that programme on television during the week Up? Well, I would reckon that Stephen was the guy at seven [years of age] that he is now.

"He was a determined wee guy, always quiet. Like I say, we had a big family - five sisters - and he was the middle child syndrome; didn't say much.

"He didn't get the chance!"

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"He was a determined wee guy, always quiet. Like I say, we had a big family - five sisters - and he was the middle child syndrome; didn't say much.

"He didn't get the chance!"

Cyprus coach Ran Ben Shimon believes there is more pressure on Scotland after the hosts' 3-0 defeat by Kazakhstan in their opening qualifier.

"Motivation is very high for Scotland - they changed their manager," the former Israel defender says. "We are expecting a big challenge against a quality team.

"But, no doubt about it, the start of Scotland's campaign makes them chase after points now.

"June is not an easy time to play football after a long season, but the players are hungry - they come very focused.

"I believe we are advancing all the time. We try to win every game and this is no exception."

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Kenny Miller and Jamie Mackie were on target in a 2-1 friendly win in Larnaca... way back in November 2011.

Professor Green featuring Emeli Sande was number one in the charts with Read All About It.

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EamonnKillie: Eamonn Brophy has a bit of the James McFadden about him. I fancy him to become Scotland's new gallus poster boy soon enough #bbcsportscot, external

Strike a pose... the Tartan Army boasts more than a few colourful foot soldiers.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Scotland's third Group I qualifier is their first at home, with Alex McLeish having been in charge for the defeat in Kazakhstan and the victory in San Marino earlier this year.

Russia made short work of Group I minnows San Marino in Saransk, winning 9-0.

Michele Cevoli, Artem Dzyuba, Fedor Kudryashov and Anton Miranchuk scored in the first half.

Dzyuba helped himself to four more goals after the interval, with Fedor Smolov banging in a couple.

Group leaders Belgium will be strongly fancied to ease past Kazakhstan in Brussels later.

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Andy Robertson is riding the crest of a footballing wave: fresh from winning the Champions League with Liverpool, the Scotland captain will be aiming to take his scintillating club form into the first game of the Steve Clarke era.

"Steve Clarke has been unbelievable," says the full-back. "I've never come across him before but I've been very impressed with him. The lads have really taken to the training. That's what we needed.

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"It [training] was a bit more high tempo at the start of the week, and we've been focusing a lot on tactics.

"But it's very hard for him [Clarke] to get everything across in a short space of time. But I think the lads have taken enough on board - we should be able to implement what he wants us to do.

"Not to the complete standard that he wants us to, but we'll definitely try our best and hopefully that's enough to get us the result..."

Will Steve Clarke get his Scotland tenure off to a winning start? What do you make of his starting line-up?

Where are you watching tonight's Euro qualifier?

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Scotland: Marshall, O'Donnell, Robertson, Mulgrew, McKenna, McLean, Forrest, McGinn, McGregor, Fraser, Brophy.

Substitutes: Bain, McLaughlin, Palmer, Souttar, Findlay, McTominay, Russell, Armstrong, McNulty, Cairney, Burke, Taylor.

Cyprus XI to follow...

"We've spoken among ourselves about little targets, little achievements, what we need to do..."

Steve Clarke is wasting no time in outlining his vision as Scotland manager. Clarke oversees his first game in charge - since succeeding Alex McLeish - in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Cyprus at Hampden tonight.

"I'm really, really impressed with the quality in the group and really surprised there has been so much negativity around the national team," says the new man at the helm.

Is qualification for the finals a realistic target?

We'll soon find out...

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