Steve Clarke believes his players are chomping at the bit to get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flier – as he prepares to unleash turbo-charged Ben Gannon Doak on Denmark.
The manager’s six years in charge of the national team have seen qualification for two European Championships secured.
But with a defeat in a play-off for the 2022 World Cup to Ukraine remaining a sore point, Clarke detects a steely determination among his charges to tick the one remaining box.
‘If the training this week is any guide, then they are looking forward to it very much. Training has been very sharp. Very focused,’ he said.
‘I think over the years my experience tells me sometimes you don’t read too much into what you see at training. Sometimes your players are flying during the week and then they forget to turn up at the weekend.
‘But I would expect them to be as excited as they are about the campaign. I expect them to come in and train as hard as they have because the World Cup qualifiers take a long time to come around.
Steve Clarke says his side are determined to make up for 2022 World Cup play-off pain
The Scotland squad appeared to be in good spirits before what is a testing trip to Denmark
Andy Robertson and Co will be looking to make a winning start in their group
‘It seems a helluva long time since we lost that play-off game against Ukraine and all of the boys who were here still remember that night and they want to make amends for it.’
Injury prevented Clarke taking live-wire Gannon Doak to the Euros last year, but on the back of his £25million transfer from Liverpool to Bournemouth the manager feels his time has come.
‘Immediately, he gives you a different dimension because he’s quick, direct and likes to get at the opposition,’ he said.
‘That’s the type of player we’ve maybe been missing a little bit and we certainly missed Ben when he was out injured.
‘It’s nice to have him back and hopefully he can have a big impact over the next six games.’
With only six qualifiers to play in the four-team section which also contains Belarus and Greece, Clarke is adamant that he won’t have to stress the need to start quickly.
‘Not really to be honest because you know you have to start well anyway,’ he said.
‘You always need to get as many points as you can, but that’s not to say you can’t have a slow start and still qualify.
‘I think we had a slow start in one of the previous campaigns and we still managed to come through at the end of it.
‘So, we’ll just do what we can and, as I say, you always try to keep the big picture. At the end of November how many points have we got and is that enough to take us to the World Cup.’
Clarke’s main issue is selecting a goalkeeper. Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly aren’t playing at Nottingham Forest and Rangers, respectively, with Zander Clark struggling to keep clean sheets with Hearts.
Unperturbed at the situation, Clarke said: ‘I have just watched them in training. I will be guided by Chris (Woods), my goalkeeper coach.
‘We know what they can all do. They are the three goalkeepers we took to the Euros so we have worked very closely over a number of matches and international camps.
‘I am pretty clear what I am going to do with the goalkeepers.’
Clarke is without Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston through injury with Josh Doig called up.
‘It is always disappointing when you’ve picked your squad,’ said the manager.
‘I think I have learned over six and a bit years you’re always going to lose one or two. ‘To lose two full backs was disappointing, but we have enough cover in the squad.’
