A SILVER LINING
Clarke’s XI will be stronger when they finally do face Israel
IT’S awfully hard to look on the bright side of anything at the moment. Be honest, any silver lining is so well hidden behind a sky full of dark clouds that Superman’s X-ray vision would struggle to pick it out.
But we have to try, right? And we Scots, being of a famously sunny natural disposition, are experts in making the best of a bad situation. Especially when it comes to football.
So, yes, at some point this evening, a few thousand Scotland fans may well find themselves absentmindedly reaching for their scarves, wallets, keys, bus fare, phones and all-important tickets… before drifting back to reality. Hopefully, before they leave the house.
Armchair punters, meanwhile, might end up flicking through the sports channels on autopilot, certain that there was something they were supposed to be watching.
The postponement of Scotland v Israel, the semi-final of Nations League play-offs that offered us the chance to end our 22-year absence from major finals, has punched a pretty big hole in our footballing calendar, all right.
We should be at Hampden. Or at least watching from the bar room or front room. Until, well, you know.
The really annoying thing? We were definitely going to win. Nae bother, as they say only in ‘comedy’ sketches portraying Tartan Army foot soldiers in the broadest of brush strokes.
Consider this, though. How confident would you have really been of following up victory over Israel by beating Norway in Oslo or Serbia in Belgrade?
Now, how much better would you feel about our chances if Billy Gilmour had another handful of Premier League appearances under his belt, Kieran Tierney was back to full fitness, John McGinn was up to match speed, Scott McKenna’s hamstring wasn’t still in bits, Scott McTominay was in tip-top shape and form...
You can see where this is going, right? A delay to those play-offs — and you can forget about the original UEFA idea of rescheduling for June — might actually give Steve Clarke more options.
Assuming the Israel game goes ahead in July, August or even September, Sportsmail has put together a potential starting XI — including a few definite starters who would certainly have been unavailable for a game tonight.
GOALKEEPER DAVID MARSHALL
The Wigan No1 is firmly re-established as Scotland’s first choice. No need to change anything there.
RIGHT-BACK LIAM PALMER
Once again, the best candidate for the position. The former Under-21s star deserves a sixth senior cap.
CENTRE-HALF SCOTT McKENNA
This only works if the play-offs are pushed back well into July, maybe August, with his hamstring injury likely to take another three months to heal.
If there is an outside chance of the Aberdeen stopper being fit enough to play, though, you won’t find Clarke complaining.
We’re still short of central defenders. And McKenna is arguably the best of a small crop.
CENTRE-HALF KIERAN TIERNEY
OK, it’s not his favourite position. And you might not expect him to cope with the aerial threat of Erling Haaland, should Norway await in the final.
But we have a left-back. And Tierney, who has been fighting back from shoulder surgery, is not only a brilliantly fierce competitor — but a simply outstanding footballer.
You would put your shirt on him to do a lot more than just a workmanlike job in central defence. Could still be a match winner.
LEFT-BACK ANDY ROBERTSON
Yeah. Well, who did you think we were going to pick?
CENTRAL MIDFIELD SCOTT McTOMINAY
The Manchester United midfielder, still only 23, has been eased back into the Old Trafford first team after a frustrating spell — equally annoying for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — on the sidelines with a knee injury.
A few more games under his belt and he would be too good an option to ignore, providing a solid foundation behind the ‘front four’ — and fitting in well alongside…
CENTRAL MIDFIELD JOHN McGINN
A tough call. How do you leave Callum McGregor out of the team, if he’s fit and in form?
Well, McGinn was back in first-team training with Aston Villa — having recovered from a broken ankle — before the shutdown.
If you are looking for dig and energy to dominate the engine room alongside McTominay, McGinn is at least an option, either as a starter, a sub or just competition for the tireless McGregor.
RIGHT WING JAMES FORREST
That hat-trick he scored against Israel at Hampden during the Nations League itself should strike fear into the hearts of the visiting defenders. Give him the ball and let him run.
CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELD BILLY GILMOUR
Come on. The kid is already good enough to play in just about any of the central-midfield positions.
Should he get even a month of first-team football under his belt with Chelsea before the play-offs are finally crammed into the schedule, he is only going to improve.
Hailed by some seriously giant footballing names as the Next Big Thing, Gilmour — who will turn 19 in June — has a sense of composure that should make him an instant hit for the senior national team.
LEFT WING RYAN FRASER
Can easily switch flanks with the equally adaptable Forrest, adding flexibility and pace — so much pace — to the attack.
STRIKER LEIGH GRIFFITHS
Well, of course it’s Griffiths. If you know another Scottish striker of similar ability, don’t put the answer on a postcard. Call Steve Clarke and let him know.