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Steve Clarke presented Craig Gordon with an opportunity to earn a spot in Scotland’s Euro 2024 team by showing his support for the players who have reliably played for him in previous years.
At 41 years old, the individual is among four goalkeepers chosen for a 25-member team for upcoming friendly matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland. This decision allows Clarke to maintain flexibility in his choices.
Unfortunately, Callum McGregor, Aaron Hickey, and Jacob Brown are unable to participate due to injury. Clarke anticipates having challenging choices to make as he narrows the team down to 23 players by June 7th, one week before Scotland’s first match against Germany in the tournament.
The most recent team announcement did not contain any unexpected names. Ryan Jack, a midfielder for Rangers, will not be present due to ongoing fitness concerns. Additionally, both Josh Doig and Robby McCrorie have been removed from the team since their last appearances in November against Georgia and Norway.
Lawrence Shankland remains in the team after scoring a goal in Tbilisi, despite being called up at the last minute. Angus Gunn, Craig Gordon, John Souttar, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, and Grant Hanley have all returned to the team after recovering from injuries.
Clarke expressed his satisfaction in having a few players return. He acknowledged that there are still three or four missing players he would have liked to have had in the squad. However, his main focus is ensuring that by the start of May, he will be faced with difficult decisions due to a full roster of healthy players.
If we reach May and I am faced with making difficult decisions, it will undoubtedly be unfortunate for those who are not chosen. However, it is a necessary part of my job and I will be prepared to fulfill it.
Craig Gordon has recently recovered from his injury.
When questioned about the possibility of someone joining the team late, he stated that there is always room for opportunity. However, he is struggling to understand the current makeup of the squad. He highlighted that the core members have performed admirably for their country and have earned the right to compete in the Euros.
Gordon has been unable to replace Zander Clark on the Hearts team after healing from a double leg fracture. However, the goalkeeper, who has been capped 74 times, has recently begun starting in three Scottish Cup matches.
Clarke observed as he maintained a flawless record, leading Steven Naismith’s team to the semi-finals against Morton at Cappielow on Monday evening.
The ex-manager of Kilmarnock clarified his justification for selecting four goalkeepers, including Clark, Gunn, and Gordon, along with Liam Kelly from Motherwell.
“The opportunity to observe Craig closely has arisen as he has already played three competitive games. While I do not intend to undermine the opposing teams played by Hearts in the cup, these may not have posed significant challenges for Craig,” stated the speaker.
“It will be great to witness Craig training alongside the other goalkeepers. Three out of the group will be selected for the Euros while one will not make the cut.”
I will evaluate all of my resources. When assembling a team for a tournament, there are other factors to consider, such as team cohesion and the experience of long-standing players. This decision will be thought-provoking.
Clearly, Zander is currently the top choice for the No. 1 position at Hearts, indicating his consistently impressive performances. Liam Kelly has also been dependable in the league, as he usually is, and it’s great to have Angus Gunn back on the team after being absent during the games in November. It’s beneficial to have all four players vying for three spots on the team.
There are multiple factors that will play a role in this – performance during games, consistent playing time, and the overall makeup and dynamic of the group. This includes evaluating the players who have been on the team and identifying those who train effectively.
“I also have a number of central defenders to consider. I will not be selecting all of them, so the situation is the same. They must make a good impression and perform well at their respective clubs if they want to be chosen for the team.”
Zander Clark is preventing Craig Gordon from playing for Hearts.
The photo was taken by Andrew Milligan and is courtesy of PA Wire.
Brown (knee) and Hickey (hamstring) are recovering from surgery but there is some uncertainty over McGregor’s Achilles problem with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers last week stating a scan had been inconclusive.
Clark stated that he had a short conversation with Callum this week as he was aware that Callum would not be attending the camp. He does not foresee any major issues in the future.
The Scotland team selected for the upcoming friendly matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland:
I am not able to reword.
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Scott McKenna (Copenhagen), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
Players moving forward: Che Adams from Southampton, Lyndon Dykes from QPR, and Lawrence Shankland from Hearts.
Source: independent.co.uk
