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Italian champions Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour are rubbing shoulders with skipper Andy Robertson in Scotland camp after his Premier League triumph
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Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson won Coppa Italia while Max Johnston won Austrian league with Sturm Graz
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Clarke is delighted to have so many winners in his squad and says it can only augur well for national team
One by
one they arrived at the team hotel. No medals around the necks and no need for them. The glow of success said it all.
Andy Robertson’s second
Premier League
title with
Liverpool
would have been inspiring enough, but those sat around the dinner table also feasted on stories stemming from extraordinary feats achieved on foreign soil.
One year on from missing the Euros with a serious knee injury, Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson’s Coppa Italia triumph is the stuff of comic book heroes.
As for
Scott McTominay
and
Billy Gilmour
winning the scudetto in their first year in Naples? Pretty much every superlative feels inadequate when you try to convey the sheer scale of the achievement.
A long-standing advocate of players spreading their wings, Steve Clarke has felt the positivity radiate through his squad this week.
‘It’s really good,’ said the national manager with just a hint of understatement.
‘I thought the decision of the two boys to go to Napoli was really brave, as it was for Lewis back in the day to go to Bologna.
‘Lewis has obviously been there a little bit longer, and to be the captain of the Bologna team that lifts the cup is something amazing.
‘I was lucky enough to speak to Lewis’ dad (Derek) the other day at Lesser Hampden. He was there at the homeless World Cup squad, watching training. And his dad was so proud of him and so he should be.
‘It’s a magnificent achievement. Lewis is one I’ve always spoken about. He will be a big player for Scotland and I think we are at the stage now where he’s ready to do that.’
Neither McTominay nor Gilmour had to prove anything to anyone before respectively swapping Manchester United and Brighton for Naples last summer.
Yet by being willing to take the chance, they’ve reaped the most spectacular reward.
The first Scots to win the Italian league since 1905 now have demigod status among Neapolitans. Nothing for them will ever be the same again.
‘It’s just like a dream,’ added Clarke. ‘To make that decision to go abroad and to end up winning Serie A against a really top Inter Milan team…
‘I think the last month of the season, everybody in Scotland became a Napoli fan. We were all so desperate for them to win the title. And they did. It was nice of Scott to turn up on the last day of the season (against Cagliari) and score another goal. It was a decent finish.
‘Billy played that game as well and was outstanding. So, Scott’s been the one that’s grabbed the headlines, but that’s not to forget Billy, who was there when they needed him when (Stanislav) Lobotka was out injured. He never let his side down. Well played both of them.’
The prospect of pulling on the famous jersey at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium would intimidate many. Clarke harboured no such fears for two of his star men.
‘Just confidence, confidence in their own ability,’ he said. ‘The answer is that short. They’ve both got big confidence in their own ability and they’ve showcased their talent in a different league. It’s no surprise to me.’
This is all good for the business of the national team, of course.
In years gone by, the prospect of friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein would have been as appealing as stewed tea, but it’s telling that not a single member of Clarke’s original squad withdrew.
When players are successful at club level, they are evidently less inclined to view such matches unfavourably.
‘They’ve come into the squad with a lot more confidence,’ said Clarke.
‘They feel good about themselves. I could mention Grant (Hanley) winning League One with Birmingham and winning that cup… I don’t even know the name of that cup anymore!
‘Josh (Doig) got promotion with Sassuolo. Max Johnston obviously had a fantastic season in Austria (with Sturm Graz) and won the title.
‘They came in a good shape. They’ve had a great season with their clubs.
‘They feel good – and that goes into the squad, it feeds around the squad.. Even the ones who are a little bit disappointed with the way their seasons went – George (Hirst) at Ipswich with relegation.
‘Sometimes it’s tough for them, but they come in around a group of boys who are really happy and the squad’s been in good fettle this week, to be honest.’
Kieran Tierney didn’t get on the winner’s podium in his last season with Arsenal, but his impending return to Celtic has put a spring in his step. If selected on Friday night, the full-back will earn his 50th cap.
‘In recent years, he’s had one or two little injury issues that’s probably restricted his number of caps,’ said Clarke. ‘We’re lucky to have him.. He’s a top, top player.’
Clarke has long juggled with his system to shoehorn both Tierney and Robertson into his side.
What he wouldn’t give to have such an overabundance of options in the goalkeeping position.
With Craig Gordon and Liam Kelly injured, Angus Gunn should play on Friday evening despite being unattached after leaving Norwich. Cieran Slicker and Robby McCrorie should fill the bench, with Bournemouth teenager Callan McKenna having enjoyed the experience of training with the squad this week.
There was a time when Scotland managers had a genuine dilemma over who wore the gloves. Now there’s only angst. What exactly has happened?
‘No idea,’ Clarke replied. ‘Maybe we just took our eye off the ball. We need to find a bigger pool of young goalkeepers.
‘If I can bring in one every break just to train and understand the level of what they have to do, then maybe we can find two or three to take us the next 10 to 15 years.’
Clarke named seven uncapped players in his squad. While some will sample international football for the first time across the coming days, he plans to field a largely recognisable side to do something about Scotland’s lamentable record in such matches.
‘It’s not very good,’ he acknowledged.
‘It’s funny, I was at a couple of functions recently with Gordon Strachan and we were talking about it.
‘We were trying to work out why it would be that the record in friendly football is so poor.
‘It would be nice to improve that record a little bit in the next two games.’
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