Uncapped winger Findlay Curtis has been named in Scotland’s squad for this month’s World Cup warm-up games.
The 19-year-old, who is on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers, will be a surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad for the trip to Japan on March 28 and then to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Ivory Coast three days later.
Also returning is goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who started at Euro 2024 in Germany in place of injured 43-year-old Craig Gordon. This despite only playing 45 minutes for Nottingham Forest this season.
Angus Gunn (left) returns to Scotland squad in place of injured Craig Gordon
In defence, Everton’s Nathan Patterson and Wrexham’s Dom Higham return to the squad in place of injured Brentford defender Aaron Hickey and full-back Josh Doig, while Hibs’ Grant Hanley retains his place despite last playing over a month ago due to injury.
Ben Gannon-Doak is absent as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained in Scotland’s win over Denmark last November, while Sparta Prague’s Andy Irving is also included in the midfield.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway will also return, while Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland will be absent as he recovers from injury.
Clark hopes Curtis can make an impact
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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has praised Rangers winger Findlay Curtis after he impressed on loan at Kilmanloch after giving him a place in the World Cup squad for this month’s matches.
Curtis has impressed in six appearances at Rugby Park since joining on loan from Rangers in January.
The winger, who scored three goals in 26 games for Rangers, has one Scotland Under-21 cap and Clarke is hoping to get his chance at the senior level.
“He came into the Rangers team and I liked him,” Clark said. “I thought he was pretty straightforward and trying to make things happen.
“I went to see him live at the weekend and thought he was decent. He was quick, direct and required defenders to defend, so it was a little different.
“Obviously Ben Gannon-Doak has had a huge, huge impact on the team and of course on the media and the Scottish public because he’s something a little bit different. I hope Findlay can give us something similar, hopefully.”
“He’s not exactly the same type of player as Ben, but he’s a similar player.”
For Scotland, the first nation to qualify for the World Cup, the game against Japan will be their first return to Hampden Park since securing a place in this summer’s finals.
Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 at Hampden Park to qualify for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the friendly match against Ivory Coast, who reached the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations, will be the first meeting between the two teams.
There will be a farewell match against Curaçao at Hampden Park on May 30th, followed by a yet-to-be-determined overseas friendly in the United States, followed by the first Group C match against Haiti.
All members of the Scottish squad:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etifaq), Dom Higham (Wrexham), Ross McCrory (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dynamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souter (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celt).
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 (Turin), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hurst (Ipswich).
Naismith ‘very optimistic’ Scotland can make history in World Cup finals
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Earlier this month, his assistant Stephen Naismith spoke and discussed Scotland’s chances of reaching the finals of a men’s major for the first time.
Scotland assistant coach Stephen Naismith feels “very optimistic” about his country’s chances of progressing through the group stages for the first time.
The 51-times capped forward played under Clarke before first joining the coaching staff in 2021 and believes this current group of players can create further history after ending a 28-year wait to qualify for the World Cup.
“To be honest, looking at the situation of the teams involved and our team, I felt that was our goal even before the draw was decided,” he told Sky Sports News.
“The coach told us very arrogantly that in the process of going back to the time when we narrowly lost in the playoffs in Ukraine, we would not only reach the final, but definitely move forward.
“All the games are going to be tough, the conditions are going to be tough, but it’s the same for everyone.
“We’ll be playing against a lot of countries that we don’t play against very often. It’s going to be a tough game, but we definitely feel like we’ve got what we need to advance in our group and be the first team in the World Cup.”
“What we have is a team of leaders in their prime, playing for big clubs and mentoring potential young players in the team.
“So we’re very optimistic. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we’re definitely going to do the best we can.”
“This group has always performed well and created its own history. The next step, which would be really great for some of our players, is to finish their careers and get through the group stage and get to the World Cup finals.”
