Steve Clarke addresses Scotland contract talks and possible return to club football after World Cup

The 62-year-old, who has led the national team to a first World Cup since 1998, is out of contract following the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer.

World Cup preparations begin next month with friendlies against Japan at Hampden Park on March 28 and Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium three days later.

Scotland start their Nations League B campaign in September after being drawn in a group alongside Switzerland, Slovenia and North Macedonia this week.

Clarke revealed he has yet to sit down with Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell to discuss his future beyond the World Cup - but hopes to do so imminently.

“When you get to my age, you never expect anything like that," Clarke told Sky Sports on Sunday. “We’ve both – myself and Ian Maxwell – have been really busy. We haven’t had time to sit down yet. We will sit down hopefully before March and hopefully we’ll have a little bit more to discuss on those matters.

“For me at the minute, it’s just concentrating on making sure the preparation is right and everybody is ready to go for the World Cup. The autumn can take care of itself.”

Clarke also admitted he could be enticed back into club management after seven years in charge of Scotland. He previously managed West Brom, Reading and Kilmarnock.

“It would depend on which club," Clarke added. “If a decent club job came up and I was available, and I hadn’t signed a contract with SFA, then you never know."

“The Scotland job has been great for me, it’s coming up seven years in the summer.

“We’ve had three qualifications, a really good bunch of players that have evolved well, we’ve grown well and we’ve learned how to get to tournaments.

“That’s been exciting and I’ve enjoyed it – as much as you can enjoy any managerial job these days because there is quite a lot of media attention and short-term pressure.

“You see managers getting sacked left, right and centre. So for me it’s just to enjoy this moment and see what happens."