Scotland man makes World Cup case impossible to miss - why Steve Clarke must opt for star in problem area

The excitement that proceeded the 4-2 win against Denmark which sealed qualification in November, was tempered somewhat when the two rather forgettable friendly ties saw striking trio George Hirst, Lyndon Dykes, and Che Adams all draw uninspiring blanks.

Talismanic duo Scott McTominay and John McGinn have chipped in with goals in the past, while Lawrence Shankland’s return from injury will be a huge boost, no doubt. However, as supporters begin to count down the days to the campaign opener against Haiti in Foxborough on June 14th, the question is surely beginning to weigh heavily on Clarke when it comes to selecting a squad for the tournament.

The lingering doubts over his striking options have resulted in recall shouts for several forwards, namely Hull City’s Oli McBurnie, Oli Burke of Union Berlin and even Scotland Under-21’s record scorer Fraser Hornby of Darmstadt. However, above them all is a growing clamour to see Southampton’s in-form hitman Ross Stewart handed a recall to the national team after a four-year absence.

Capped twice by Scotland in 2022 after his 26-goal haul helped fire Sunderland out of the third tier, Stewart endured a nightmare couple of seasons on the treatment table following an £8million move to Southampton just one year later, but has returned to form and fitness in some style with his club side.

Spearheading a 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions, he followed up his composed opener in the shock 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Arsenal at the weekend with another goal in the 5-1 thrashing of Disney+ darlings Wrexham on Tuesday. Stewart now has a trio of targets in his sights. Promotion, an FA Cup final appearance and maybe, just maybe, a seat on the plane to America in the summer.

With eight goals from his last 16 games, Stewart has become the most in-form Scottish striker in Europe, and is making the strongest case of any for a place in Clarke’s squad at the World Cup. Scoring at a rate of 0.72 per 90 minutes for the season, the 29-year-old is far ahead of those currently expected to be in the squad, with Dykes (0.27), Shankland (0.55), Adams (0.28), Bowie (0.14 in Serie A) and Conway (0.25) all performing at a lower rate in front of goal. Even Falkirk striker Barney Stewart, who has an impressive eight in 13 ranks at 0.67 goals per 90.

Comparisons aside, the forward offers something Scotland doesn’t really have at present. An ability to run the channels, big long legs that gallop and provide a deceptive turn of pace, and an instinctive ability to put that little round thing in the back of the net. He looks confident too, admitting that scoring goals was a feeling he’d missed during an excruciating rehab period.

Taunted with comments such as ‘his legs are made of glass’ due to his injury record, some still dismiss his re-inclusion in the Scotland squad due to him missing the bulk of his first two seasons at St Mary’s with various ailments. Since returning from a hamstring issue in January, though, the former Ross County player has barely missed a game, playing a total of 587 minutes since the turn of the year.

Going back to the defeats against Japan and the Ivory Coast, there was only Hirst who emerged with any credit. However, despite putting himself in better positions than his striking teammates, his end product was less than impressive. Just one of his six attempts on goal hit the target. It is becoming abundantly clear that the 62-year-old national team boss needs further firepower if he is to make history by leading Scotland to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time.

Confirming last month that he is expected to name an enlarged 55-man preliminary squad ahead of the summer’s tournament, Clarke is likely to experiment even more in the weeks to come in order to find a remedy, and Stewart surely has to be part of that conversation as Scotland search for an answer to one of their problem positions.

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