Steve Clarke addresses concerns over Scotland call-offs as he lifts lid on Che Adams and Celtic scenarios

Steve Clarke is confident recent injury call-offs together with Callum McGregor’s retirement from international football are not signs of a malaise creeping into his Scotland regime.

The manager went on to emphasise that the absence of Che Adams from the current Scotland is due to injury and has cited an email from the player's Italian club Torino as proof.

Reports had emerged on the eve of Thursday’s Nations League A clash against Poland that the striker had withdrawn because he wanted to focus on settling into Italian life following his recent move from Southampton. This suggestion has not gone down well with the Tartan Army, who despite experiencing such bitter disappointment at this summer’s Euro 2024 have snapped up tickets for Scotland’s League A Nations League debut, which is close to being a sell-out.  

Clarke stressed that Adams is one of a number of injury casualties. He referenced an email from Torino and blamed thigh and knee problems for the striker's omission from the double-header against Poland and Portugal, who Scotland face on Sunday in Lisbon.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke during a training session at The City Stadium, on September 04, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Normal protocol would see the player report alongside the rest of the squad at the start of the camp before undergoing a fitness assessment by Scotland medics. Clarke has however permitted the player to stay put.  Three other players have pulled out due to injury, including Celtic pair Greg Taylor and James Forrest.

“The club informed us on Saturday morning that he'd picked up a knock in the game,” said Clarke. “The conversation we then had with Che is: Does he come across to be assessed and sent back to Italy? 

"There was no point. So that's why he misses out. By the same token, the two boys from Celtic who played at the weekend (v Rangers) came in on Sunday night, got assessed by our medics and were sent home. It's easy because they're in Glasgow. So no big drama on that one.”

Clarke was pressed on whether it was more a case that Adams wanted more time to settle in Turin, as reports were indicating. “I can probably get you the email if you want,” he said. “I've not got it on me just now, but there was an official email from Torino saying that he had injuries that he picked up in the games - thigh and knee. And they asked for him to be withdrawn from the squad.” 

The manager insisted that the pair had spoken had reached a joint decision for him to remain in Italy rather than endure a wasted trip to Scotland. Adams has already adapted well to his new surroundings, scoring the winner against Atalanta last month. 

With six goals in 33 international appearances, Adams is one of Scotland’s best bets for a goal, although he has only scored once in his last 14 outings. Clarke now has a choice of just three strikers – Lyndon Dykes, who is expected to start against Poland, Lawrence Shankland and Tommy Conway.

Che Adams has withdrawn from the Scotland squad citing thigh and knee injuries. | Getty Images

The manager is satisfied players still want to play for him despite just one win from 12 games. That Clarke has been badly served by injuries cannot be disputed, with Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey having been unavailable for long spells. 

He was asked whether the Tartan Army should worry about stories such as the one about Adams emerging so soon after McGregor surprisingly announced his retirement from international football last month.

“I don't think so,” he said. “I think by the nature of the players that are injured, they are quite significant injuries. The retirement, obviously Callum's made his decision. That’s one retirement across just over five years. I don't think it's anything that we should worry too much about at this moment in time. Ask me in another three or four camps…..” 

• This is the Scotland team and formation Steve Clarke must pick to face Poland