Manager won’t go chasing Adams

STEVE CLARKE has told Southampton striker Che Adams he must make the first move if he is to be considered for Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad.

Adams, 24, has been in excellent form for the Premier League club this season and is eligible for Scotland through a maternal grandparent.

Although capped at Under-20 level by England, Adams (right) was approached by the Scottish FA in 2017 regarding a switch in allegiances but declined to commit.

Clarke would be receptive to adding the powerful and pacy forward to his striking options for this summer’s rescheduled tournament but insists he will not go cap in hand. He said: ‘That’s a really difficult one. I’m a Scotsman born and bred and, if players ers have been approached to play for the national team and have turned us down, then I’m not so keen to go chasing after them.

‘I have to be honest, if there are players out there e who have been approached d but have turned us down for whatever reason — and normally the reason is that they can play for another country — then I think it’s up to them to come chasing us.

‘They have to put their case to us about why they should be involved in the squad — that’s my gut feeling on it.’

Adams has scored four times for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side and has dovetail dovetailed particularly well with atta attacking midfielder Stuart Ar Armstrong, an established m member of Clarke’s squad The Scotland manager a added: ‘You read a few bits an and pieces in the paper that the there are people who want to be in involved in a major European finals.

‘I have to make sure I get the balance right between being loyal to the players who got us there and trying to improve the squad in a small way.’