Scotland’s fringe players still have time to “stake their claim” for World Cup places despite there being “more depth” in the squad now, says assistant head coach Steven Naismith.
Steve Clarke has a reputation for sticking with the tried and tested, but 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis – who is on loan to Kilmarnock from Rangers – is a new face in the squad chosen to face Japan on Saturday and Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
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Several players from in-form Hearts and Motherwell missed out on selection, but Naismith insisted there is still time to force their way in.
“The manager is constantly looking,” he said, when asked what his message would be to players who have missed out this time.
“The only thing players can do is consistently play well. That is the only thing in their control and that will give them their best chance to make the World Cup squad.”
As Scotland prepare for their first game since clinching qualification by beating Denmark, Naismith conceded there is a “core group of older players” who will be included if they are “fit and ready”.
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But the former Rangers, Everton and Hearts forward added that there is “a lot of variation” outside that group.
He also suggested that Scotland Under-21 cap Curtis’ early season involvement in the Ibrox first-team had helped him be “comfortable in the environment” with the senior squad.
“The best thing for me is there’s the younger guys that are coming in,” Naismith added. “We’ve got a bit more depth than we have done in previous squads.”
Naismith pointed to the example of Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway, who has forced himself back into the group.
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“Having a really good season, had to be patient, probably could argue he could have been in a few of the squads before and then he’s in,” he said.
“The best example is the Euros with Billy Gilmour and Nathan Patterson. They had no experience, but the manager’s willing to take them to a tournament.
“The manager’s conscious of making sure that the progression of the squad is good and that’s not just young players.”
Naismith also cited defenders Greg Taylor, Stephen O’Donnell, Declan Gallacher and Andrew Considine as players brought in at times from less fashionable clubs in previous squads.
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“It doesn’t matter where you’re playing – if the manager thinks you can be useful with the squad and improve the squad or help the squad out at certain points, he’ll select you,” he said. “He’s done that.”
The next chance to impress is at Hampden on Saturday against Japan, who are currently 19th in the world rankings, 19 places above the Scots, then Ivory Coast, just one spot above Clarke’s side, in Liverpool on Tuesday.
“It’s quite an exciting challenge, these next two games, because a couple of countries that Scotland aren’t used to playing, maybe stylistically, very different as well,” Naismith added.
“It was a conscious decision to get fixtures like that. They’re two really tough games. That’s the level you are going to come up against at the World Cup.”
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