Craig Gordon Returns for Scotland’s World Cup Qualifiers vs Greece and Belarus as Zander Clark Dominic Hyam and Max Johnston Ousted
Scotland Announces Squad Changes Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers
Scotland’s head coach, Steve Clarke, has made notable updates to his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in October. Among the changes, 42-year-old goalie Craig Gordon returns, replacing Zander Clark from Hearts. This decision comes as both goalkeepers have faced challenges securing playing time recently.
Craig Gordon’s Return from Injury
Craig Gordon, who last represented Scotland during the Nations League play-off against Greece, has been recovering from a neck injury. Although he hasn’t seen game time this season, his inclusion in the squad indicates his readiness to contribute. Zander Clark, meanwhile, has not played since August, which further influenced Clarke’s decision.
Both standouts in the goalkeeping department are currently short on match experience. Angus Gunn, who achieved back-to-back clean sheets in Scotland’s earlier qualifiers, has yet to play for Nottingham Forest this season, while Rangers’ Liam Kelly has seen just one League Cup appearance.
Celtic Duo Recalled to the Squad
Alongside Gordon’s return, Celtic defenders Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston are back in the fold after missing earlier matches against Denmark and Belarus due to injuries. Their experience will be invaluable during the crucial qualifiers.
However, defensive options Dominic Hyam and Max Johnston have been omitted from the 23-player squad that will face Greece and Belarus at Hampden Park.
Midfield Consistency Remains Key
Steve Clarke has maintained a consistent midfield selection, featuring prominent players such as Ben Gannon Doak and the Serie A contingent of Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay, and Lennon Miller. Aston Villa’s John McGinn is particularly close to reaching a career milestone, just one game shy of his 80th cap.
Despite his recent scoring success with three goals in two games, Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland has not been selected, as Clarke has opted for the same quartet of strikers featured in the last squad.
Scotland’s Full Squad for Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers) |
| Defenders | Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) |
| Midfielders | Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese) |
| Forwards | Che Adams (Torino), Kieron Bowie (Hibernian), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham), George Hirst (Ipswich) |
Strong Start to the Qualification Campaign
The Scotland national team has made a strong start to their World Cup qualification journey, securing four points from their first two matches. Under Clarke’s leadership, the team drew against top-seeded Denmark before securing a 2-0 victory over Belarus. Currently, Scotland stands level on points with Denmark at the top of Group C.
With the next match against Greece approaching in just nine days, and a subsequent home game against Belarus shortly after, Clarke aims to guide Scotland to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Upcoming World Cup Qualifier Schedule
- Greece (H) – October 9
- Belarus (H) – October 12
- Greece (A) – November 15
- Denmark (H) – November 18
As excitement builds, Scotland fans are hopeful for a successful qualification campaign and look forward to witnessing their team’s performance in the upcoming matches.
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