Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has revealed that he is expected to submit a bumper 55-man preliminary squad to FIFA ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Drawn in Group C in their first appearance at the tournament in 28 years, Clarke’s team will face Haiti in their opening game at the 63,815-capacity Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on June 13, before they take on Morocco at the same stadium five days later. Scotland finish their group stage fixtures with a match against Brazil in Miami on June 24.
Expected to name an enlarged squad of players, with a deadline of 11 May, Scotland will face a pre-tournament friendly against Curacao at Hampden Park on May 30. Clarke must then whittle down his list to 26 before the tournament begins the following month.
But who are the 55 players that Clarke is likely to be considering as part of his Scotland World Cup long-list? Here, we look at the players he is likely to consider.
33. CM: Lewis Ferguson - Bologna
The Bologna captain has become a regular in Steve Clarke's starting XI over the last year. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
34. CM: Lennon Miller - Udinese
Undoubtedly Scotland's most talented teenager, the ex-Motherwell captain moved to Serie A last summer and has featured prominently since the turn of the year. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
35. CM: Andy Irving - Sparta Prague
Moved to the Czech top flight in January, and kept his place in the Scotland squad for the games against Japan and Ivory Coast. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
36. CM: Connor Barron - Rangers
The Rangers midfielder saw his progress curtailed by a knee injury in January, but has now returned to full fitness and will be targeting a spot in the squad after impressing at Ibrox this season. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group