‘Testing time’ for Clarke as Scots call up unfamiliar trio

Head coach Steve Clarke admits it is a “testing time” as John McGinn and Scott McKenna were added to Scotland’s lengthy injury list for the Nations League double header against Croatia and Portugal.

Nicky Devlin, Liam Lindsay and Andy Irving have been awarded first call ups, with Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, Lewis Ferguson, Tommy Conway, Jack Hendry, and Ross McCrorie all injured or making their way back to fitness.

Aberdeen right-back Nicky Devlin and Preston North End centre-back Lindsay will join the group for the first time amid what Clarke described as a “horrendous run of injuries” in defence.

And they will be joined by West Ham United midfielder Irving.

Scotland face Croatia in Zagreb on 12 October before Portugal visit Hampden three days later.

“It’s a testing time for me and a testing time for the squad,” Clarke said. “The injuries are there for everyone to see and you can talk about them all day.

“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.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s 88th-minute winner in Lisbon last month consigned Clarke’s side to consecutive defeats in Nations League A, after Poland also struck late to win 3-2 in Glasgow.

It means Scotland have won just once in their last 14 outings.

It was thought goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 41, might have played his last game for Scotland when he earned his 75th cap against Finland in June.

However, having been reinstated as Hearts’ first choice goalkeeper this season, Gordon is preferred to his club team-mate Zander Clark, with Norwich City’s Angus Gunn and Dundee’s Jon McCracken also selected.

“Craig told me it was not a farewell and he would see me in the future, and he lived up to his promise,” Clarke said.

“He’s always shown he’s up for the fight and wants to play as many times as he can for his country.”

The Scotland boss said he had a discussion with under-21s coach Scott Gemmill and decided to leave the likes of Max Johnston, Josh Doig and Connor Barron with his squad for the key European qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belgium.

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Devlin has played every league minute at right-back for Aberdeen as they have won their first 12 games in all competitions this season.

The 30-year-old joined from Livingston last year and gets his chance to impress with Hickey and Patterson on the sidelines and Johnston left out.

It’s been a more difficult start to the season for Preston’s Lindsay. The Championship side have shipped 12 goals in their first seven games and sit 22nd.

The Glasgow-born defender started his career at Partick Thistle, before spells with Barnsley and Stoke City.

“It’s a chance for Nicky and Liam,” Clarke said. “Both are experienced, dependable defenders who have had good club careers without the international recognition they can hopefully get in the upcoming games.”

Irving, meanwhile, came through the Hearts academy before moving to the relatively-unknown German side Turkgucu Munchen when his contract expired.

He then moved to SK Austria Klagenfurt, and impressed sufficiently in the Austrian top flight for West Ham to take a chance on him in January 2023.

After spending six months back in Klagenfurt on loan, the left-footed playmaker has made two Premier League appearances this season under Julien Lopetegui.

A Scotland debut would cap a rapid rise for the 24-year-old, who less than three years ago was playing in the German third division.

“He surprised everybody with the choices he made to move abroad and in a roundabout way he’s ended up in the Premier League,” Clarke added.

“It’s important people recognise there are different ways to get to the top.”