Scotland World Cup squad - if finals were today, this is who I'd pick

While the Tartan Army will be eagerly making travel plans once the draw is made on December 5, the players will be doing all they can between now and the end of the season to ensure they are on the plane next summer after the 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden sealed qualification.

The permitted squad size for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico has not yet been officially confirmed although FIFA increased the limit from 23 to 26 for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Steve Clarke has been loyal to a core of players who have now taken the country to three major finals under his watch, earning him the distinction of the first Scotland manager to achieve this.

The 62-year-old will now spend the next few months casting an eye over his options and keeping his fingers crossed that his key players avoid picking up any injuries that would rule them out of contention.

Here is how the squad could look if it was selected today...

Goalkeepers

FIFA rules stipulate that each World Cup squad must have at least three goalkeepers, which is an ongoing problem position for Scotland with the options currently restricted to those either lacking in club minutes or international experience. Angus Gunn has been Scotland's number one when fit in recent times, amassing 20 caps, although he missed the November camp due to injury. He is currently third-choice at Nottingham Forest, where he has yet to make a single appearance since signing in the summer. A January move could benefit him and Scotland.

Craig Gordon will be 43 by the time the tournament comes around but showed he remains a top-class custodian with his performances against Greece and Denmark, earning his 83rd cap in the latter. The issue for Gordon will also be game time between now and the World Cup with the veteran no longer first choice at Hearts. But the reassuring thing for Clarke is that both Gunn and Gordon have shown during the qualifying campaign that they can step in from the cold and perform for Scotland.

Other recent call-ups, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark, are also out of the first-team picture at their clubs, meaning that Scott Bain, who earned a first international call-up in six years this month after a strong start to the season with Falkirk, would have a strong claim to take the final berth if he can keep up his impressive form.

On the plane: Angus Gunn, Craig Gordon, Scott Bain

Reserve list: Liam Kelly

Defenders

Clarke included 10 defenders in his Euro 2024 squad and with cover required across four positions - potentially five if he wants the option of fielding three central defenders - then it would seem likely that number will be required again. Andy Robertson isn't an automatic starter for Liverpool any more but that may be no bad thing for Scotland if it allows the national team skipper to arrive at the World Cup in a fresher state than he would be after a 50-game season. With thoughts turning to who might take over the left-back position from Robertson, who will be 32 in March, when he retires, it would seem logical to include Josh Doig in the squad for tournament experience and as emergency cover.

At right-back, Aaron Hickey's return to fitness has been a huge boost for Scotland and he will only get stronger as he continues to build up his minutes with Brentford. Anthony Ralston has proven a reliable option for both Celtic and Scotland when called upon and will likely provide back-up, although Derby County’s Max Johnston and Bristol City’s Ross McCrorie will hope to nudge him out if they can continue to perform well for their clubs. Kieran Tierney has become a squad player for Scotland of late after his injury troubles but his stunning goal against Denmark shows he still has quality to get back into the starting XI either at left-back or right-back. That leaves space for four out-and-out central defenders.

Grant Hanley, John Souttar and Scott McKenna are the trio who have rotated throughout the qualifying campaign and, barring injury, would be expected to go to the World Cup. Another slot is up for grabs with Jack Hendry in pole position after featuring in recent squads, albeit without playing. Ryan Porteous has dropped out of the international picture since his nightmare Euros but is, by all accounts, back performing well in the MLS. Uncapped Hearts defenders Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay are putting themselves on the radar and continued strong performances in the Scottish Premiership would make them hard to ignore.

On the plane: Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Josh Doig, Aaron Hickey, Anthony Ralston, John Souttar, Grant Hanley, Scott McKenna, Jack Hendry, Max Johnston.

Reserve list: Ross McCrorie, Ryan Porteous, Dom Hyam, Craig Halkett, Stuart Findlay.

Midfield

The strongest part of the Scotland team, on paper, led by the Ballon d'Or nominated Scott McTominay, who elevated his icon status even further with the outrageous overhead kick opener against Denmark. If Napoli could wrap their midfielder in cotton wool between now and next summer that would be just grand as far as Clarke and the Tartan Army are concerned. John McGinn is another talismanic figure with the Aston Villa captain crucial to Scottish hopes in North America. Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson are all guaranteed squad picks if fit. Ferguson, in particular, will hope to be involved now that the Bologna captain has established himself in the Scotland starting line-up after missing Euro 2024 with an ACL injury.

Kenny McLean has also shown he is the man for the big occasion - the halfway line strike against Denmark not his first notable contribution in dark blue. His place has been earned and not just because of Clarke's loyalty. Ben Gannon-Doak provides Scotland with the pace in wide areas no other player can. Here's hoping his injury against Denmark is not a serious one and he can be back playing soon. That leaves one more midfield space in Clarke's World Cup squad up for grabs. Lennon Miller could be the one but the 19-year-old will need to play more at Udinese, or go on loan elsewhere, to keep his place. Andy Irving will be hoping he can force his way in after managing a couple of recent starts for West Ham while Josh Mulligan at Hibs and Connor Barron at Rangers are another two to keep an eye on.

On the plane: Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Kenny McLean, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lennon Miller.

Reserve list: Andy Irving, Josh Mulligan, Connor Barron.

Strikers

This could be the one area of the team where Clarke could turn to a wildcard. Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes have been the two strikers Clarke has relied upon most to lead the line across his tenure and both will likely be rewarded with a seat on the plane. While both can be effective as workhorses, the goalscoring ratio is a concern. It feels as though Dykes best international days are behind him with his status as an English Championship bench warmer not helping matters. Adams gets more minutes at Torino, but his lack of killer instinct was shown again in the 3-2 defeat in Greece. Lawrence Shankland proved that he deserved his Scotland recall with his goal against Denmark and providing he can continue his early-season scoring form with Hearts then it would be an easy decision for Clarke to include him in his World Cup squad.

As things stand, the possession of the fourth spot is in the hands of Ipswich's George Hirst, who has netted five times in the English Championship this season. He has not yet shown his full capabilities in his fleeting Scotland appearances with his sole start not going well in a 3-1 defeat to Iceland, although he did net his first international goal in a friendly win over Leichtenstein in June. Kieron Bowie has gone a little off the boil at Hibs but could re-emerge as a contender if he gets back to his early season form while Tommy Conway probably needs a big season at Middlesbrough to get back in the reckoning.

On the plane: Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland, George Hirst.

In reserve: Kieron Bowie, Tommy Conway.