Tue Oct 01 10:15:31 UTC 2024: ## Scotland’s Injury Crisis Deepens Ahead of Nations League Fixtures
Scotland’s head coach Steve Clarke is facing a major injury headache as his squad prepares for the upcoming Nations League double-header against Croatia and Portugal. John McGinn and Scott McKenna are the latest additions to a lengthy list of injured players, joining the likes of Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, and Lewis Ferguson on the sidelines.
In response to the crisis, Clarke has called up three new faces: Nicky Devlin, Liam Lindsay, and Andy Irving. Devlin, a right-back for Aberdeen, and Lindsay, a centre-back for Preston North End, have both earned their first international call-ups. Meanwhile, Irving, a midfielder for West Ham United, has been included after a rapid rise through the ranks.
Clarke admitted that the injury situation is “a testing time” for both him and the squad. “The injuries are there for everyone to see,” he said. “But for me it’s better to talk about the ones who are going to play and have the chance to play and kickstart their international career.”
Despite the challenges, Clarke is confident in the ability of the new call-ups to step up and contribute. “Both are experienced, dependable defenders who have had good club careers,” he said of Devlin and Lindsay. “It’s a chance for them to get the international recognition they deserve.”
The call-up for Irving is particularly notable, given his journey from the German third division to the Premier League. “He surprised everybody with the choices he made to move abroad,” Clarke added. “It’s important people recognise there are different ways to get to the top.”
Scotland face Croatia in Zagreb on October 12th before hosting Portugal at Hampden three days later. They will be hoping to turn their fortunes around after a disappointing run of form that has seen them win just once in their last 14 outings.
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