Hearts duo named by Scotland

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has named two Heart of Midlothian FC players in the squad to face Poland at Hampden Park and Portugal in Lisbon early next month in the UEFA Nations League A, Group 1.

Striker Lawrence Shankland (pictured) and goalkeeper Zander Clark (pictured below) get the nod. Several uncapped players are included along with former Hearts defender John Souttar and two ex-Hibs players, Ryan Porteous and John McGinn, in Scotland’s inaugural campaign in the top tier.

The clash with Poland is in Glasgow on Thursday, September 5 (7.45) and against Portugal at the Estadio do S L Benfica on Sunday, September 8 (7.45 UK time).

Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps), who played five games for Hibs in 2019 on loan, will be determined to make his Scotland debut ten years after his only previous call-up and Liverpool winger Ben Doak, who was forced to withdraw from the preliminary squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 squad earlier this summer, will also want to make an impression.

Uncapped goalkeeper Robby McCrorie (Kilmarnock) and defender Max Johnston (SK Sturm Graz, Austria) are also named along with Tommy Conway who earned his first cap in June before moving from Bristol City, where he made 82 appearances, scoring 20 goals, to Middlesborough for £4.5m.

Clark is named among three goalkeepers, including Angus Gunn (Norwich City) and McCrorie while Shankland has three other strikers to compete with for a place, Che Adams, now with Italian side Torino, Conway and Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers).

Callum McGregor (Celtic) has retired and experienced players, Stuart Armstrong, Liam Cooper and Ryan Jack are all currently free agents and have been left out.

Meanwhile, 66-year-old, Glasgow-born Alan Irvine, who played for Queen’s Park, Everton Crystal Palace, Dundee United and Blackburn Rovers, has joined the coaching team and will combine his role with the national side alongside his club duties at London-based West Ham United. He replaces James Morrison.

Scotland: goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Robby McCrorie (Kilmarnock): defenders: Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Max Johnston (SK Sturm Graz), Scott McKenna (UD Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Greg Taylor (Celtic): midfielders: Ryan Christie (AFC Bournemouth), Ben Doak (Liverpool), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps), Billy Gilmour (Brighton and Hove Albion FC), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls): forwards: Che Adams (Torino, Italy), Tommy Conway (Middlesborough), Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).