“We’ve got to produce our best” – Clarke opens up on World Cup Selection
Steve Clarke has backed the experience of his squad, stating he “understands the responsibility” of leading the nation to their first World Cup in 28 years. Speaking at Hampden following the squad announcement, the manager expressed his excitement for the tournament but admitted the selection process had taken its toll. “You’ve got to think a lot about it, make sure you get the balance right. I feel we’ve done that. Everybody knows the way I work. “I don’t think there was any point in building experience over the squad, we’ve done that, this is the group of players who understand how to qualify for major tournaments. “Hopefully the experience of the boys who have been to major tournaments before will come to the fore and we’ll do something no Scottish team has done before.” Clarke’s goalkeeping trio included veteran Craig Gordon. The manager praised the 43-year-old’s “resilience” after recovering from another injury scare. “Always difficult when you have goalkeepers not playing regularly. “As long as they are working to their maximum in training, you feel they can come in and play for a number of games. “We’ve had good reports back from Hearts, he’s training very well, he assures us he’s fully fit. “He’s shown a tremendous resilience. He deserves to be there. If he was to struggle, we have the option to change them. The squad includes Southampton striker Ross Stewart, who makes a return to the international fore for the first time in four years. “It’s a good story, Ross. He was in my squad a few years ago, showed he could come up to this level. “He’s had a terrible run with injury, but from January onwards he’s hit a rich vein of form. “He’s shown he can score big goals in big games. The Arsenal game in the cup showed he can have an impact on games of that level. “He’s a striker in form, so I decided to add him to the group. “I put a lot of importance on characters in the group. You need good relationships.” Lawrence Shankland also made the cut, despite enduring a difficult weekend for Hearts in their title showdown against Celtic. Clarke understands that the result will sting the striker, but believes he will be ready to have an “impact” this summer. I’ve got no fears about any of my players leading the line. “Lawrence and his club have had a fantastic season, obviously it ended in a bit of heartbreak at the weekend. “In my experience, footballers are very resilient. It will take him a few days and a few conversations. He needs to decompress a little bit now and be ready to have an impact on the World Cup this summer.” Behind every World Cup selection lies the heartbreak of those left behind. Clarke opened up about the five incredibly difficult conversations he had to deliver, including breaking the bad news to youngster Lennon Miller. “I had five very difficult conversations [with players who didn’t make it]. “I know how they’ll be feeling. [Lennon Miller] had been in a few squads, maybe felt he was going to be a regular. “I felt with the balance of the midfield it was better to take an extra forward than a midfield player.” Findlay Curtis backed up his March call-up by securing a place in the final squad. The Rangers youngster, who joined Kilmarnock on loan in January, clearly boosted his chances with a strong run of form. Clarke joked that he hopes the midfielder is “jumping around the living room” after learning he made the cut. “I don’t tell them, I let their clubs tell them. I just put the squad out this morning. “Findlay was hopefully jumping around the living room, or wherever he is in the world. He’s probably on holiday. “Impressions when I brought him in in March – he fitted in very well. He’s got something a little bit different to what we’ve got. “He’s shown he can score a goal, he’s finished the season in a great place and it’s nice to have a young one in the squad.” Scotland Squad for 2026 World Cup Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly. Defenders: Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Dom Hyam, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney. Midfielders: Ryan Christie, Findlay Curtis, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay. Forwards: Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, Ross Stewart.
Pep set to leave Manchester City after successful spell in England
Pep Guardiola is set to depart Manchester City at the end of the week after a 10-year spell in England. Pep joined City back in 2016, after former boss, Manuel Pellegrini departed the Etihad. Pep has been on of the best managers in the history of Manchester City having a 72% win rate in the Premier League after joining from Bayern Munich in 2016. The Spanish coach has managed 591 games for City, winning 423 games with 76 draws and 92 defeats during his time. Since joining, he has won many trophies, winning six Premier Leagues, 3 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, 3 Community Shields as well as their first ever, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Cup with the Champions League victory coming back in 2023 in a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Instanbul. Pep won his 20th City trophy last weekend as Semenyo netted the winning goal in a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. He turned Man City into England’s most dominant side for majority of his time in Manchester as well as breaking many records also. Pep led Man City to the 100-point mark in 2018 before a treble the following season. The records continued to come in as Pep secured four back-to-back trophies which included four League Cups and two FA Cups as well as another treble back in 2023 as well as winning his sides first ever European Trophy in 2023. There has been rumours of where Pep may end up next with a possible International job on the cards as rumours suggested Italy could be on the line. A massive loss to Man City as they will now look deep in for a replacement manager with Enzo Maresca coming out to be the frontrunner to take over at the Etihad who departed Chelsea at the start of 2026. Maresca knows Man City well after being the assistant to Pep when the Spanish coach secured the historic treble as well as their first Champions League trophy before leaving to manage Leicester in which he moved onto Chelsea but of course, departed Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day.
Steve Clarke Announces Scotland World Cup Squad
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has announced his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup. Southampton forward Ross Stewart has earned his first call-up in four years, with the 29-year-old being preferred to the likes of Hellas Verona’s Kieron Bowie. Findlay Curtis is rewarded for his fine end to his loan spell at Kilmarnock, after the 19-year-old made his debut for the national side in March against Japan. But there is disappointment for domestic talents such as Hearts’ Harry Milne and Stuart Findlay, Falkirk’s Scott Bain and Calvin Miller, Motherwell’s Stephen Welsh who failed to make the plane, along with surprise omission Lennon Miller of Serie A side Udinese, who made 25 appearances for the Italians last campaign. GOALKEEPERS: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers) DEFENDERS: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dominic Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic). MIDFIELDERS: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Napoli). FORWARDS: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham City), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton).
Aberdeen captain offered new deal with Inverness interested in their former man
Aberdeen captain, Graeme Shinnie has been offered a 2-year-deal to remain at Aberdeen but Inverness are tracking. Graeme Shinnie who’s born and bred in Aberdeen started up his career in the Highlands with Inverness Caledonian Thistle back in 2009 racking up a Scottish Cup win over Falkirk. The Aberdeen born then went into fulfil his dream of playing for his boyhood side, joining in 2015. Shinnie went on to spend a total of four years before making a switch down south to Derby County. The midfielder was a regular starter for Derby making just shy of 100 appearances with the English outfit. Shinnie then moved onto Wigan making 31 appearances for the side before he made a return to Aberdeen in 2022. Shinnie returned to being a regular starter at Pittodrie with his dream to end his career with leading the Dons to a Scottish Cup victory. After 3 years, his dream came true after a penalty-shootout win at Hampden over Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final gave Shinnie all he wanted and guided his boyhood side to their first Scottish Cup in 35-years. Shinnie has been in-and-out of the side of late, but Robinson has been full of praise of the 34-year-old saying: “arguably the best captain I have ever worked with” and a vital “culture setter”. Aberdeen have offered Shinnie a two-year-deal, but an agreement is still far away with newly promoted Scottish Championship side, Inverness looking to take Shinnie back to the Highlands once again.
