Scotland 'won't take chances' with expected starter as Steve Clarke makes 'avoid humping' quip
McKenna likely to miss out as manager places emphasis on collective
Steve Clarke has stressed he is relying on “26 superstars” if Scotland are to qualify for the second stage of a major finals for the first time.
One of them, perhaps the most obvious candidate to be conferred this status, has been described by Clarke as “perfect”. Scott McTominay was at the centre of some pre-match anxiety when he missed training on Thursday with a stomach bug. Fears he would miss Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti after he were eased by the manager.
The Napoli midfielder trained with his teammates at the Boston Stadium on Friday although Scotland have suffered one injury blow on top the already sidelined Billy Gilmour. Defender Scott McKenna, who many felt might start at centre half, has endured a frustrating summer so far and has not been able to shake off a calf injury in time. He is expected to restart training properly next week. “We won’t take any chances with him,” said Clarke.
Unsurprisingly, McTominay dominated the agenda in a press conference attended by reporters from around the world.
“I’ve got 26 superstars here,” noted Clarke. “I think to try and put so much onto one person isn’t fair. We have build everything over the last seven years as a squad. That’s everybody being together and everybody playing their part at certain times.
“Some daft coach played Scott as a centre half five years ago! But obviously he’s not a centre-half. And since moving further forward he’s done great for us.
“No, we’re delighted with Scott’s abilities and what he can bring to the team. But we’re going to need another 15 to bring the same if we want to have a positive tournaments.”
The Scotland manager was speaking at the Boston Stadium the eve of the country’s return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998. This long, inglorious chapter will close against Haiti in front of over 30,000 Scots on a trip of a lifetime. Clarke is being made aware of the scenes in Boston, where Scots have taken over the city centre bars.
Family affair for Clarke
“You know me, I’m stuck in the dark ages so I haven’t been looking at too much social media,” he said. “But some of the group have been showing me little clips of videos of what’s been going on back home and you get a little feel of the mood."
The manager’s entire family has joined him in the States. “I’ve got my wife, my three children, my five grandchildren are here as well as my two daughters-in-laws. So there’s a big Clarke clan here and it’s going to be great.
“Obviously not many people get the chance to take their country to a World Cup,” he added. “We’re going to try to enjoy it but obviously the game will dictate the circumstances.”
Clarke missed out on two World Cups finals as a player and is clearly intending to make the most of this tournament. He admitted he has not enjoyed his previous two major finals as manager.
“The first one was Covid affected and it didn’t feel right,” he said. “It didn’t feel like a major tournament. The other one was a big disappointment because of the way it started the tournament. We let ourselves down and we had that bad feeling.
“With this tournament, hopefully we have learned from the experience. It’s 28 years since Scotland have been at a World Cup and I think the fact that we’re here - from anyone you speak to, support wise- tells you that they’re grateful that we’ve brought them out here.
“But I’m the same. I’m grateful that my team have brought me here.” As for what he had learned from the opening games of the last two tournaments, including the 5-1 defeat against Germany in Munich two summers ago, he said: “The German one is easy. Don’t get humped!”
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