Steve Clarke under pressure - why Scotland and Rangers share more in common than Hampden residency

Welcome back to Hampden Park, home of ….Rangers Football Club. The Tartan Army can stop fretting. Cherry pickers were in place earlier this week to remove the red, white and light blue branding from the front of the national stadium as Scotland prepare to make a return to action for the first time since their doomed Euro 2024 adventure.

The Ibrox club’s residency might or might not be coming to an end in the coming weeks. Still, the stadium’s primary occupiers could easily be confused with the temporary tenants.

Like Rangers, Scotland are in a new cycle as they prepare to make their debut in League A of the Nations League against Poland. Like Rangers, they will feel they have some making up to do with supporters. And like Rangers, they have a manager who is operating under a considerable amount of pressure.

It felt very different just a year ago. Steve Clarke was in his pomp and Scotland were on the cusp of qualification for Euro 2024, although what a cursed enterprise that proved. The only thing threatening to spoil the tranquil conditions was the uncertainty over Elliot Anderson, who had been called up with great fanfare to the squad for the games against Cyprus and England but pulled out shortly after arriving in Scotland due to a supposed injury.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke oversees training at the City Stadium in Glasgow on Wednesday. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Clarke had tried twice to convince Anderson, who was born in Whitley Bay but has a grandmother from Glasgow, to pledge his allegiance to Scotland. Told he needed more time to consider his options, the Scotland manager was then contacted by a third party last August to inform him the player wanted to come with Scotland.

Anderson was duly called up by Clarke but clearly has had second thoughts. The 21-year-old, a £35 million signing for Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United earlier this summer, is expected to line up for England Under-21s against Northern Ireland this Friday night.

Tino Livramento, another player who qualifies for Scotland and who was linked with a pre-Euro 2024 call-up, could well earn his first full cap for England against the Republic of Ireland this weekend, having made the step up from the Under-21s. Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, was also linked with Scotland last year but has since won four caps with England.

No one can blame them for choosing to follow this path - they were all born in England after all, and they now have a chance of competing at the business end of tournaments. Nevertheless, it all feeds into the narrative that suddenly, or maybe not so suddenly, Scotland are a busted flush.

Anderson's prevarication can now be viewed as the start of what has become a rocky period for Clarke. That developing saga didn't stop Scotland scoring three times in the first half hour against Cyprus a year ago this weekend to all but book their place in Germany.

Andy Robertson (centre) leads Scotland players during a training session at The City Stadium, on September 04, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

"There's only one Steve Clarke!" chorused the fans at the AEK Arena as Scotland made it five wins in a row, a run that included a memorable 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden. Where have those days gone? What has happened to a Scotland team who seemed so sure of themselves? And what has happened to Clarke, who, although never an effervescent presence at the best of times, was less prone to some of the prickliness he has exhibited of late?

It’s clear this summer’s let-down has affected him although he has claimed to have flushed it from his system. It might take longer for the Tartan Army to forgive and forget but they have remained loyal, with Hampden close to a sell-out for the visit of Robert Lewandowski and co.

Clarke suggested there will be no quick fix as he seeks to start rectifying a run of one win in 12 outings. He does so against a background of numerous call-offs and the significant loss of Callum McGregor, who retired from international football last month.

“It's evolution, not revolution,” said Clarke. “Obviously this time we have a significant number of injuries that have probably impacted my squad selection a little bit, which means I've had to dip down into the Scotland U21-squad probably too many times, if I'm being honest. They also have a couple of very important fixtures coming up. But that brings its own freshness.

“It's important, and I've mentioned it before, that we respect the core group that have managed to qualify for back-to-back European tournaments. But then within that core group you have to try and add a little bit more. Hopefully we can add something that makes us better. It's not going to happen overnight.”

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

Something that certainly hasn’t happened overnight is Ryan Gauld’s international re-awakening. A decade after his first call up, the Vancouver Whitecaps playmaker is present and correct in Glasgow having made the trip from Texas following his side’s MLS win over Austin FC on Sunday night.

He has been reunited with old flatmates Andy Robertson and John Souttar from Dundee United days and is a contender to feature against Poland, despite the inevitable toll of such intense travel on his body. It seems surreal that a Scotland manager who has been in the post for over five years met Gauld for the first time only this week. Still, better late than never.

“He is available for selection,” said Clarke. “Obviously he has come a long way through a lot of time zones. The first time I met him was on Monday. He’s not had a lot of time to work on the pitch. He was out there on Tuesday on the training session, but had limited time on the pitch. He had a little bit longer this morning. It's been nice to see him and meet him.

“I think he has enjoyed it so far,” Clarke added. “Can he be involved in the game tomorrow? For sure and the game after (v Portugal) as well. Everyone in the squad can be involved. You can play 16 players out of 23. Hopefully across the two games we get to see him.”