WE HAVE LEFT OFFFORISRAEL
Israel behind Hampden’s closed doors won’t affect Scotland’s chances of making Euro 2020 but it can lay down a massive marker before the Israelis return next month for the semi-final play-off that would lead to a winnertake-all clash with Norway or Serbia.
And for the first time since he took charge of his country, he’ll have Arsenal star Tierney available.
Clarke may switch to a back three, with the former Celtic man on the left side, and Liverpool’s Robertson operating at left wing-back.
He was giving little away but said: “The more I do this job, the decision is making sure I pick the team that can win the game. Whether that’s a combination of all the ones who have had lots of game time competitively through August and the other players who can contribute to this specific match.
“Kieran has been good. Very competitive in training, sets a good standard, demands a lot of the people around about him. Not so much in his vocals, just the way he trains. When somebody trains at 100 per cent it tends to have a good effect on the group.
“We have looked at different combinations for the team and the way we are going to play.”
Asked if it would be difficult to revert to a back three after just three training sessions to work on it, he added: “It will depend how receptive the players are. They have to have a positive mentality, they have to be prepared to be really receptive.
“It also helps if they have had some re c e n t experience of playing different formations, different systems. Most of them over the course of their career will have come across that.”
Clarke, clearly thrilled to be working his squad for the first time since beating Kazakhstan in November, hard on the heels of wins over Cyprus and San Marino, insists another victory will get the Nations League campaign off to a flier – but also keep the feelgood factor alive ahead of Monday’s trip to the Czech Republic and the big one against Israel next month.
He said: “We want the positivity, which would mean we’ve kept our unbeaten run going. We are on three wins in a row and we’d like to make it four. We look to build on the momentum we had last year.”
The manager also put to bed any theory Oli McBurnie had incurred his wrath by playing for Sheffield United in a friendly, the day after withdrawing from the Scotland squad.
Clarke said: “I thought the outcry was over the top. It was a very simple situation.
“We met up here on Sunday and Oli hadn’t been on the grass training for one minute. He trained on Monday, Chris [Wilder, his club boss] decided the best way to get some fitness into him was to give him 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly.
“To try to relate that to two massive international matches coming up for us is completely wrong.
“I ’m sure Sheffield United have another friendly this weekend and I’m sure Oli will play some minutes. So he’s fit to play in a pre-season friendly for Sheffield United, that’s completely different from being ready to go for your country.”