'Scan wasn't great': Scotland dealt major blow as Steve Clarke issues pile up ahead of March friendlies

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has been dealt another injury blow after veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon was confirmed as a major doubt for next month’s friendlies with Japan and Ivory Coast.

The 43-year-old Hearts stopper was forced to pull out of last weekend’s win over Falkirk after developing a shoulder injury in training earlier in the week. A key figure in the Scotland squad that ended their 28-year wait to qualify for the World Cup, Gordon has played just three league matches this year and had hoped to build up match fitness in next month’s pre-tournament clashes, but has received bad news after undergoing a scan this week.

Expected to battle with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Angus Gunn for the number one spot in the lead up to the tournament in the Americas, the experienced goalkeeper’s place in the squad for next month’s friendlies is now in major doubt after Hearts head coach Derek McInnes revealed details of Gordon’s scan.

Scotland goalkeepers Angus Gunn and Craig Gordon have played just four league games combined this season. | SNS Group

“The scan wasn’t great reading,” said McInnes, “But Craig is feeling better than the scan suggests. He’s got a follow-on appointment this morning. The scan showed there is something there that we need to try to manage. The likelihood is he won’t be available for the next couple of weeks and depending on what the specialist says he could be a doubt for the Scotland get-together next month. Craig is still positive. It’s the opposite side to the other shoulder and it’s just wear and tear over the years and it’s flared up - a consequence of the amount of football the boy has played.”

Scotland face Japan on Saturday, March 28, at Hampden and then play Ivory Coast at Hill Dickinson Stadium, home of Everton FC, on Tuesday, March 31. The game acts as warm-up fixtures ahead of this summer’s World Cup, where Clarke’s side will face Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil in Group C of the tournament.

The injury to Gordon may see Clarke dig into his reserves of goalkeepers, with Nottingham Forest stopper Gunn also not match fit after featuring in just 45 minutes of league action following his free transfer move to the City Ground in the summer. Rangers’ Liam Kelly and Scott Bain were introduced to the squad back in November, but Gordon’s injury may mean Clarke looks to add one of Dundee’s Jon McCracken, Esbjerg’s Robby McCrorie, or Celtic’s Ross Doohan. Cieran Slicker, Zander Clark and Callan McKenna are also potential options.

Alongside the Hearts goalkeeper, the 60-year-old national team boss is also sweating on the fitness of strikers Che Adams of Torino and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, with the duo doubtful due to calf and hamstring injuries, respectively. The Jambos skipper is one of several injury concerns at Tynecastle, with centre-back Stuart Findlay’s hopes of a Scotland recall dashed after McInnes confirmed he will be out for the next six weeks and requires surgery on a hamstring issue, while his Gorgie teammate Ageu is ruled out for the remainder of the season. Key midfielder Cammy Devlin is still three weeks away from a return.