Scotland resume their preparations for this summer’s World Cup – and play their first game since qualifying for the tournament – as they host Japan at Hampden in the first of two friendlies this week.
Steve Clarke’s side will be back in action for the first time since beating Denmark 4-2 on an extraordinary night in November, as passage to a first men’s World Cup since 1998 was dramatically booked.
Now Clarke will oversee his final camp before naming his final World Cup squad, with Scotland arranging games against Japan at Hampden and the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday.
Scotland have stuck with a settled squad as the countdown to that crucial opening game against Haiti on 14 June begins.
Here’s everything you need to know:
When is Scotland v Japan?
Kick-off at Hampden will be at 5pm on Saturday 28 March.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown live on BBC One Scotland, as well as on BBC iPlayer.
What is the Scotland team news?
Clarke will be without his No 1 goalkeeper in the 43-year-old Craig Gordon, who faces a race to be fit for the World Cup due to a shoulder injury. His Hearts team-mate, and a scorer in that 4-2 win over Denmark, striker Lawrence Shankland is also unavailable as he builds up his match fitness. Winger Ben Gannon-Doak is another who has only recently returned from injury and doesn’t make the squad, with right back Aaron Hickey also unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
Angus Gunn is likely to start in goal, despite not playing since Scotland’s win over Belarus in October, while Everton right-back Nathan Patterson is back. Kilmarnock’s on-loan forward Findlay Curtis has been handed his first call-up and there have also been recalls for Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway and Wrexham’s Don Hyam.
Possible Scotland line-up against Japan
Scotland XI: Gunn; Patterson, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson; McGinn, Ferguson, Gilmour, Christie; McTominay; Adams
Scotland squad for games against Japan and Ivory Coast
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers)
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese)
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich)
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