Scotland’s meeting away with Czech Republic looked set to be the toughest in the new Nations League group Steve Clarke’s side found themselves in.
After a 1-1 draw with Israel, a tough task with the Czech’s awaited. But after an outbreak of COVID-19 in their opponents camp, Scotland will play a Czech Republic B team, as tonight’s Nations League hosts draft in a completely new squad from the one that beat Slovakia 3-1 on Friday.
The Czech team will be severely weakend (Photo by VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Only two of them have made international appearances at senior level before. So, in the spirit of the occasion, NTOF takes a look at 10 one-cap wonders for Scotland.
Robert Leckie – Queen’s Park
The original one-cap wonder, Leckie might not have played much for the national team, but he has a big part in its history. His solitary cap came in the first ever international match between Scotland and England in 1872.
Leckie was also a founding member of Queen’s Park.
Robbie Neilson – Hearts
The current Jambos boss gets a place on this list. His only cap for Scotland came in 2006, a reward for the form he had shown as a player at Tynecastle.
Neilson on his Scotland debut. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
It didn’t end in glory though, his only appearance coming in a 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifier defeat to Ukraine.
Stevie May – St Johnstone
During his lethal first spell at St Johnstone, May earned himself a call-up to the national team and a chance to represent his country in a game against England. He was a 67th minute substitute in the friendly against the Three Lions in 2014.
Whilst no appearances have come since, one run of good form at Premiership level could fire May back into contention, given Clarke’s current striker situation.
Cammy Bell – Queen’s Park
Now in League Two with ambitious Queen’s Park, Bell earned himself a national team appearance whilst at Kilmarnock in 2010.
Bell is with Queen’s Park. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
A substitute appearance off the bench in a 3-0 friendly win over Faroe Islands has Bell written into the Scottish national team history books.
Stephen Glass – Atlanta United
Currently coaching in the MLS with Atlanta United, former Aberdeen man Glass makes his way onto this list. His cap came in a 2-1 friendly win over Faroe Islands in 1998.
Given his technical talent, it’s perhaps surprising he didn’t get more caps.
Paul Gallagher – Preston North End
The Bertie Vogts era brought about many a one-cap player, the Preston mainstay being one. Gallagher made his debut in a 4-0 friendly defeat to Wales in 2004.
Still kicking it. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
Still going strong at 36, Gallagher has penned a new deal to extend his Preston stint to nine years, loan moves included.
Jim Craig – Celtic
A member of Scotland’s most well-known domestic side, Celtic’s famous Lisbon Lions squad of 1967, defender Jim Craig only ever made one appearance for the national team.
The former right-back gave up football in 1973 to focus on a career in dentistry.
Steven Saunders – Gartcairn
Recently signed for junior side Gartcairn following a spell at Partick Thistle, Saunders managed to make himself a Scotland international in 2010.
The then-Motherwell defender featured in the same game as Bell, a 3-0 friendly win over Faroe Islands.
Darren Barr – Annan Athletic
Barr made Bairns history when he pulled on the navy blue, becoming the first Falkirk player to represent Scotland since 1959. He helped keep a clean sheet too in the 2008 stalemate with Northern Ireland.
Having had spells with the likes of Hearts and Kilmarnock, he’s now a player and assistant coach at Annan Athletic.
Warren Cummings – Havant and Waterlooville
An inclusion on this list due to the odd nature of his solitary runout, Cummings got his cap for Scotland whilst on loan at Dundee United from Chelsea.
A Scotland international. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
It came in a Far East tour game against a Hong Kong League XI in May 2002. Scotland won the Reunification Cup game 4–0 and Cummings was last seen at Havant and Waterlooville in 2016.