Scotland’s national football team is set to benefit from the inclusion of midfielder Ryan Gauld in their upcoming Nations League games. Gauld, who last received a call-up to the senior squad in 2014 but never played, has been in impressive form as the captain of Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer (MLS). Scotland’s head coach, Steve Clarke, expressed his admiration for Gauld’s career trajectory, highlighting his success in Canada and describing him as a “creative player” who offers a different style to the team.
Gauld’s journey to this point has been a unique one. After breaking through at Dundee United as a teenager, he moved to Sporting Lisbon in 2014. Gauld then spent several years in Portugal before making the move to MLS in 2021. Since joining Vancouver Whitecaps, he has been a standout performer, scoring 32 goals in 102 appearances and earning the captain’s armband.
In addition to Gauld, two other players could earn their first caps for Scotland: Max Johnston, a defender for Sturm Graz, and Ben Doak, a forward for Liverpool. Clarke has chosen to “freshen up” the squad for this campaign, including the return of John Souttar from Rangers. Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has been preferred over Hearts’ Craig Gordon and Rangers’ Liam Kelly in the goalkeeping department.
Looking back at Scotland’s disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, Clarke acknowledged that it was not their tournament. He emphasized that many factors contribute to a team’s success in a major tournament, and unfortunately, things did not go their way. However, he remains optimistic and believes that the team can bounce back and achieve greater success in the future.
Gauld’s inclusion in the squad comes after the retirement of Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain. Clarke expressed his disappointment at McGregor’s decision but respected it. He also mentioned that no other players have indicated their retirement from international duty and that everyone is determined to be more successful.
In terms of injuries and unavailable players, right-backs Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey are still out, as well as center-backs Jack Hendry and Liam Cooper. Hendry missed his club’s league opener, and Cooper is currently without a club following the expiration of his contract with Leeds United. Unattached midfielders Ryan Jack and Stuart Armstrong, who were part of the Euro 2024 squad, have also been left out of the current squad.
The inclusion of Tommy Conway, who recently joined Middlesbrough from Bristol City, provides another attacking option alongside Ben Doak. Conway adds youth and potential to the team.
Overall, the squad for the upcoming Nations League games features a mix of experienced players and promising talents. With Gauld’s addition, Scotland hopes to inject creativity and a different style of play into their midfield. The team will face Poland at Hampden on September 5th and then travel to Lisbon to take on Portugal on September 8th.