Goalkeeper Angus Gunn and uncapped Findlay Curtis have been named in Scotland’s squad for this month’s World Cup warm-up matches.
Steve Clarke has picked a 26-man group for the visit of Japan on March 28 and the trip to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium three days later to play the Ivory Coast.
Despite featuring for just 45 minutes for Nottingham Forest this season, Gunn, who started at Euro 2024 in Germany, returns in place of the injured 43-year-old Craig Gordon.
Angus Gunn (L) is back in the Scotland squad in place of the injured Craig Gordon
In defence, Everton’s Nathan Patterson and Dom Hyam of Wrexham return to the squad in place of injured Brentford defender Aaron Hickey and full-back Josh Doig, while Hibs’ Grant Hanley keeps his place despite last playing over a month ago due to injury.
Ben Gannon Doak misses out as he returns from the hamstring injury suffered in Scotland’s win over Denmark last November, with Sparta Prague’s Andy Irving included in midfield.
At the top-end of the pitch, 19-year-old Curtis, who is on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers, is included in a senior squad for the first time.
Findlay Curtis (L) has impressed since joining Kilmarnock on loan from Rangers
Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway also returns, while Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland misses out as he recovers from injury.
Scotland’s game against Japan – who were the first nation to qualify for the World Cup – will be their first back at Hampden Park since qualification for this summer’s finals was confirmed.
Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 at Hampden Park to qualify for the World Cup
Meanwhile, the friendly against Ivory Coast – who reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations – will be the first meeting between the teams.
A Hampden Park farewell against Curacao on May 30 and an overseas friendly in the USA, yet to be confirmed, await thereafter – before that first Group C match against Haiti.
Scotland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich).
Naismith ‘very optimistic’ Scotland can make World Cup knockout history
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Speaking earlier this month, assistant Steven Naismith discussed the chances of Scotland reaching the knockouts of a men’s major finals for the first time
Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith is feeling “very optimistic” about his country’s chances of progressing beyond the group stages for the first time.
The 51-time capped forward, who played under Clarke before first joining his coaching staff in 2021, believes this current group of players can create even more history after ending the nation’s 28-year wait for World Cup qualification.
“If I’m honest, if you looked at the teams involved and our squad and where it’s at, before the draw even came out, I had a feeling that was our aim,” he told Sky Sports News.
“The manager’s been very big on this way back to when we narrowly missed out in the Ukraine play-off, that we can’t not just get to the finals, we can definitely progress.
“The games are all going to be tough, the conditions are going to be tough, but that’s the same for everybody.
“You’re playing against a lot of different nations that you don’t come up as much against. They’ll be tough games, but I definitely feel we’ve got what it takes within the group to progress and be the first team to do that at the World Cup.
“What we’ve got is a squad of leaders who are at their prime, playing at big clubs to guide the potential younger guys in the squad as well.
“So we are very optimistic. It’s going to be hard work, but we will definitely do all we can.
“This group have continuously excelled and made their own history. The next step, and what would be really nice for some of the guys, is to finish their career to be the ones that push through the group stage and into the knockout stages of a World Cup.”
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