Scotland manager Steve Clarke has revealed that striker Che Adams is a doubt for the upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Poland. Adams suffered an injury while playing for Torino in Serie A and will be assessed before the games. Scotland is currently at the bottom of their group and needs to secure a win in one of the remaining matches to avoid relegation to League B.
Despite the potential absence of Adams, Clarke is optimistic about the squad’s depth in the forward department with Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland, and Tommy Conway also in the mix. The return of key players like John McGinn, Scott McKenna, and Jack Hendry is a positive development for the team after they missed the previous matches due to injuries.
In addition to the familiar faces, goalkeeper Cieran Slicker received his first call-up to the squad, replacing Jon McCracken. Clarke emphasized the importance of giving opportunities to young players like Slicker to showcase their talent and potentially earn a spot in the senior squad.
The manager highlighted the pathway from the under-21s to the senior team, mentioning players like Connor Barron and Ben Doak who have been part of the progression. Clarke is pleased with the performances of the team in the past games, despite not achieving the desired results, and is hopeful that they can secure more points in the upcoming matches.
Clarke also mentioned the return of Lewis Ferguson from injury, emphasizing the importance of managing his playing time effectively to ensure his full recovery. Looking ahead to the World Cup qualifying campaign in March, Clarke is hopeful that players like Ferguson, Slicker, and Nathan Patterson will be fit and in top form to contribute to the team’s success.
Overall, Clarke is focused on building a strong squad with a combination of experienced players and promising talents to achieve positive results in the upcoming matches and secure Scotland’s status in the Nations League.
