The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scotland squad holds no surprises for new boss Clarke
SCOTLAND: New national boss will already know players inside out, insists Killie stopper
Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald has told the Scotland squad that new manager Steve Clarke will already know every single player inside out.
MacDonald has recalled how the former Chelsea and Liverpool number two had done his homework on the Killie squad before beginning his remarkable 19-month transformation of the club in October 2017.
Clarke will get down to work with the players on the training pitch today ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2020 qualifier at home to Cyprus and MacDonald insists the 55-year-old will not need time to settle into the post.
The former Hearts shot-stopper said: “When the manager came in at Kilmarnock he had done his homework and mentioned that he had seen us play and looked at our games.
“He said straight away, ‘you’re all good players’, and when you have someone with the standing he has in the game telling you you’re a good player, you automatically get that bit of confidence in you.
“After those first couple of weeks he had individual meetings.
“On my own personal situation, he brought up things in the past at Hearts and he had watched games or had spoken to people.
“He goes into depth about things, it’s not a case of learning who his players are.
“He does his homework and he wants to get the right types of people, he wants to get his own people, people who want to play for the jersey.
“He’ll set his marker earlier doors but he’ll have done his homework on every single player who is available.”
Clarke made an immediate impression at Rugby Park, leading Killie to a record points tally after inheriting a side that was bottom of the Premiership.
MacDonald, however, hopes the ex-West Brom and Reading boss will be afforded time in the national team dugout.
He added: “We need to look to the future, it’s 20-odd years since we’ve been to a tournament and we’re always saying that we want to get to the next tournament, but I think you need to look beyond that and build for the future.
“I think that is what is important for Scotland now, the manager is in place and hopefully he is there for along time that he can actually build something rather than chop and change during every campaign. I think we need a bit of stability.”