Steve Clarke has announced his first Scotland squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Games against Cyprus and Belgium provide the former Kilmarnock boss with his first tests as national team manager.
Clarke has given a Scotland call-up to five uncapped players. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Clarke has given the likes of Liam Kelly, Greg Taylor and Eamonn Brophy the chance to win their first Scotland caps. Whilst the squad has some decent talent, there are a few players who will feel hard done by after not receiving a call-up.
Here are four players who should be in Clarke’s squad.
Liam Cooper
The Leeds United defender looked likely to receive a call-up. Cooper had reportedly spoken to Clarke according to the Daily Record about representing the national team.
Cooper has missed out on a Scotland call-up. (Photo by Pat Scaasi/ MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Cooper has played 36 Championship games for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season, playing well for the most part. He will still be hurting though from his Championship play-off error that contributed to Leeds missing out on promotion.
A defensive mix-up between he and goalkeeper Kiko Casilla contributed to what turned out to be a crucial goal that sent opponents Derby on their way to victory.
Despite this, Cooper is a brilliant centre-back on his day. You have to think he’d be better than the likes of Charlie Mulgrew and Michael Devlin.
Craig Halkett
Another centre-half who can feel unlucky not to have received a call-up is Hearts’ newest recruit Halkett.
Halkett’s Livi form should have earned him a Scotland call-up. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
The Scotsman has been pivotal in Livingston’s ascension from League One to the Premiership, captaining the side during the club’s brilliant return to the top flight.
He is on top of his game at the moment and has been rewarded with a move to Gorgie. Halkett was struggling with injury towards the end of the campaign, but if he was able to prove his fitness, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in this squad.
Halkett is one of the nation’s most promising centre-backs and was well worthy of a call-up. Surely one beckons for him in the future.
David Turnbull
Turnbull has been nothing short of extraordinary for Motherwell this season. At just 19, the midfielder was the Steelmen’s top scorer in the league this term, with a brilliant return of 15 goals in 30 games.
Turnbull has been sensational for the Well. (Photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Turnbull has scored more than first time call-up Brophy has this season, and he’s a striker. Midfield is a packed area for Scotland with the likes of John McGinn and Callum McGregor in it, but room should have been made for Turnbull.
Even if he never made the starting XI, perhaps dropping one of the four goalkeepers for the Motherwell man would have been a wise move. He’d have been a brilliant player to have, as he has the star quality to win games on his own.
Oliver McBurnie
The Swansea City striker hasn’t been great for Scotland any time he has played. Despite that, McBurnie should have been given the opportunity to impress the new manager.
No cap this time for the Swans hitman. (Photo by Kevin Barnes – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Given the only two striker options Scotland possess have scored three goals in their last eight combined, to leave someone who has scored five in his last five matches out the squad is mind-boggling.
McBurnie has scored 22 goals in the Championship this year. Scotland’s squad is in need of a clinical number nine and the Championship forward should have been given another chance to prove that he could be that man.