Scotland manager Clarke has three untried goalies for the Euro 2024 qualifiers (Picture: Craig Williamson/SNS Group)
Steve Clarke has declared there is ‘all to play for’ among his three uncapped goalkeepers after naming former England Under-21 international Angus Gunn in his first squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Gunn will battle with Hearts keeper Zander Clark and Motherwell’s Liam Kelly ahead of a Hampden double-header against Cyprus on March 25 and Spain three days later.
The Norwich player, 27, has been drafted in after Craig Gordon suffered a double leg break while playing for Hearts in December. The former Manchester City player had previously rejected overtures from his father Bryan’s native country but Clarke was made aware of a recent U-turn.
Clarke, who played with Bryan for Scotland, said: ‘I heard through a third party Angus was interested in international football. When I heard that I thought I would go down and meet him. I met him in Norwich and we had a good conversation.
‘I didn’t have to persuade him too much as he felt as though that was his best chance of getting international football, to play for Scotland. Obviously his dad was a Scotland international so it all fitted in quite well.
‘I didn’t need to speak to Bryan, it wasn’t the dad that was going to make the decision, it was his son. So I spoke to Angus and had a good conversation.
Gordon is out of the squad after suffering a double leg break (Picture: SNS Group)
‘For me it was just being honest that he would be coming in as one of the keepers in the squad and it would be up to him to force his way into the team if he was good enough.
‘We have lost Craig Gordon to injury which is a massive blow to us. Craig was the undisputed number one. And I looked at the pool of keepers and just felt that if we could improve the pool of keepers then that’s what we should do.
Kelly have yet to make a debut for Scotland (Picture: Craig Foy/SNS Group)
Clark has also yet to play for Scotland (Picture: Craig Foy/SNS Group)
‘The good thing is we have a full week’s training. I have three good goalkeepers. Liam Kelly has been in almost every squad. Zander has been in squads, obviously lost his place when he wasn’t playing and then he was sitting behind Craig at Hearts. So Zander is back in the squad.
‘None of them have got any caps so it’s all to play for. Everyone starts afresh and it could be a big chance for somebody to nail down the number one spot.’
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Clarke dismissed any suggestions that Gunn’s previous unwillingness to play for Scotland was an issue.
‘The first time I spoke to him he chose to play for the Scottish national team,’ he said.
‘What’s gone on before has gone on before but now he is part of the squad and a very welcome part of the squad.’
Scotland squad to face Cyprus and Spain
Goalkeepers: Zander Clark, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly
Defenders: Liam Cooper, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, Ryan Porteous, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong, Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Jack, John McGinn, Callum McGregor, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay
Forwards: Che Adams, Jacob Brown, Ryan Christie, Lyndon Dykes
MORE : Interim Stuart Kettlewell hails ‘perfect’ Motherwell but not ‘pitching’ for manager job
MORE : Ex-Motherwell CEO Alan Burrows takes on same role at Aberdeen
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It’s ‘all to play for.’
