Can you believe it is close to two months since Scotland’s heart-wrenching exit from the group stages of the European Championships in Germany? No, we can’t either!
While the pain of that last minute exit still lingers, the good news for Steve Clarke and his Scotland squad is they now have a chance to banish those painful summer memories. In just over a fortnight, the Tartan Army will begin their 2024 Nations League campaign with a double header against Poland and Portugal and the first post-Euros squad is now just a week away from being announced.
Placed in Group A1, Clarke will lead his side into a group that faces a number of Europe’s top clubs and will be relishing the opportunity to test his side against some of the world’s best players. However, with Kieran Tierney, Nathan Patterson, Aaron Hickey are all struggling for fitness ahead of the double header in September, and Ryan Jack and Stuart Armstrong still without a club, Clarke may see the new Nations League campaign as an opportunity to blood new names into his squad.
But which names could be in the frame for their first caps in September? We look at 10 uncapped players who could be set for their call ups next month.
9. Max Johnston - Sturm Graz
The ex-Motherwell full-back has been part of Steve Clarke's squad recently, but is yet to be capped. With Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson both touch and go for the games against Poland and Portugal, now is the ideal time to see if he can cut it at international level. At 20-years-old, he should be viewed as the future for this squad and the more experience he can get the better. | SNS Group Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group
10. Jack MacKenzie - Aberdeen
With Kieran Tierney unlikely to be fit for the September Nations League games, there's a spot on the left-hand side of defence. Like his Dons team-mates, MacKenzie has started the season well, which could put him in the frame for an unlikely first call up to the Scotland senior squad. | SNS Group