PATRIOT GAME

Clarke’s loyalty not in doubt as he pledges he’ll stand by Scots

STEVE CLARKE insists there is no prospect of him leaving the Scotland job before the Euro 2020 finals.

The 57-year-old led the national team to their first major tournament in 23 years with a dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph in Serbia on Thursday night.

Scotland have lost managers to club sides before, most notably Walter Smith’s departure to rangers and alex Mcleish’s to Birmingham City, both in 2007.

However, nailing any concerns that he could become a target for clubs who are seeking a boss before next summer’s Euros, Clarke insisted he is going nowhere.

The former kilmarnock manager said: ‘I’m actually quite a loyal person if you look at my career, apart from when I get sacked.

‘I had seven years at St Mirren from the youths right through to the first team. Then I had 12

years at Chelsea and a long time as a coach. I am a very loyal person and I will be loyal to Scotland.’ David Marshall’s save from Aleksandar Mitrovic in Thursday’s penalty shoot-out sparked scenes of joy amongst Scotland players and staff in the Red Star Stadium. And, while Clarke now wants his players to refocus on the Nations League qualifiers in Slovakia tomorrow and Israel on Wednesday, he admitted to allowing his mind to drift to a mouth-watering meeting with England at Wembley next summer as part of the European Championship group. ‘Obviously when the draw was made there was the outside possibility (of playing at Wembley),’ said Clarke, whose team will also face the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden in the finals. ‘But when the draw was made, we still had to get past Israel and still had to get past the winners of Norway-Serbia. ‘Now that we are there and have a little bit of time to reflect on it — which will probably be after the next two games — then, yeah, I could think about Wembley. ‘It would be great — and it would be great if we could get the Tartan Army there as well.’