McTominay faces fight to squeeze in my team
Steve Clarke is delighted to have Scott McTominay back in the Scotland fold after injury.
But the manager admits he doesn’t know where – or if – he’ll play the Manchester United star.
McTominay missed the last camp in September when the Scots secured a memorable 1-0 victory over Austria in Vienna.
Clarke’s back-three of Jack Hendry, Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney were rock solid that night.
And his midfield trio of Callum McGregor, Billy Gilmour and John McGinn had a terrific balance.
McTominay can play at the back or in the engine room but Clarke is just pleased to have so much quality competition for places.
The manager said: “It’s nice to have Scott back because he’s been a big player for me. It was a shame he couldn’t make the last camp but we showed
we w can compete without him. He will need to come in and be good in camp to get himself back in the team.
“We’re starting to get good competition for a lot of places in the team which is really healthy.
“Scott plays every week for Man United as a midfielder but I’ve utilised him as a third central defender where he can step out and make us play from the back.
“It’s just another string to our bow. Scott can help us as a midfielder or at the back. It’s great to have that.”
McTominay will do well to t shift Scotland’s talisman McGinn from the side.
Clarke watched the Aston Villa V ace live at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford in recent weeks where he excelled e particularly in the win over United.
But the Scotland boss didn’t need reminding of stalwart McGinn’s quality.
He said: “At that level he’s more than holding his own.
“Aston Villa deserved to beat United so that was good for John and the team.
“We have boys playing in the Premier League now and holding their own every week. That’s helping us improve as a country.”