Steven Naismith named as John Carver Scotland replacement
Steve Clarke has appointed Naismith, who was previously a coach with the national team during the manager's six-year tenure.
Naisy played under Clarke too, and made 51 appearances in total for Scotland.
He has been out of work since he was sacked by Hearts last September, although was interviewed for the Kilmarnock job when Stuart Kettlewell was appointed.
Leicester City set-piece coach Andrew Hughes has also been added to Scotland's ranks, where he will carry out the same position with the national team.
Both appointments come just a month before World Cup qualifying gets underway, with games against Denmark and Belarus.
"I am delighted to have Steven and Andrew with us for the World Cup qualifying campaign," said Clarke. "Steven has been with us before and brings a real complementary skill set to myself and Alan Irvine.
"He has had opportunities to return to full-time club football, so it says a lot for his pride in the national team that he has agreed to join up with us again. I was really impressed by a number of potential candidates we'd spoken to when John left to continue at Lechia Gdansk but the fact we've worked together before makes for a seamless transition.
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Scotsman
12 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Why Scotland striker Bowie took on impossible shot for Euro winners Hibs
National team boss Steve Clarke watched contender score screamer Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Tell us about THAT goal, big man. Kieron Bowie is going to hear that a lot over the course, hopefully, of a long and successful career. Whatever he goes on to achieve in the game, for club and country, he'll be gladly answering questions about the European glory night when he found the net in front of the Famous Five Stand at Easter Road – and very nearly caused an earthquake in the process. His best ever? Of course. The kid is still only 22, after all. Unlikely ever to be topped? Given the stakes involved and the spectacular nature of his long-distance lob/volley/thunderstruck bolt via the stratosphere, the player himself feels safe in assuming as much. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Opening up on everything from his thought process – just hit it, basically – to the agony of spending the closing minutes of extra time on the bench, not to mention his admiration for team-mate Jordan Smith's mental fortitude in a game of maddening extremes, Bowie also addressed the elephant-sized hole in the Scotland team. Steve Clarke was in attendance for last night's UEFA Conference League classic against Partizan – and must be at least considering starting the Hibs striker against Denmark and Belarus when World Cup qualifying kicks off next month. Admitting that his tendency towards audacity doesn't always pay off, the former Fulham and Raith forward referenced a less impressive effort in last weekend's 2-2 home draw with Kilmarnock as he recalled: 'I mean, obviously, I tried it against Killie, although that one was on the floor ... 'It was a bit different, but nah, it just sat up nice on the volley, and I thought I'd swing my leg. Thankfully, it swung all the way into the top corner. 'When it went in, it felt unbelievable, obviously, the whole crowd erupted, everyone was going mental on the bench, so I just ran over there, and everyone was surrounding me, and that was amazing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I don't think I've scored one better than that, and I might never score one as big again, especially given the atmosphere and the night. It's an amazing experience. 'I think their goalie was speaking to Martin Boyle after the game, asking why I shot. So that just sums it up really. Star man Bowie 'felt like an idiot' for trying a second stunner 'Honestly, I've obviously shielded two of them off, and then it's just sat up lovely, and I've just hit it. And I'll never do that again, probably. 'Yeah, I tried one right after it, too. I need to stop trying now. I felt a little bit of an idiot! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But nah, I feel like when the confidence is gone, you try things that you shouldn't really be doing. But then one of the times it ends up paying off, and thankfully that happened. 'When it went in, I was thinking: 'Right, what do I do?' And then everyone on the bench was celebrating, so I just went over there and just got bombarded. I think Jack (Iredale) was hitting me in the back of the head the whole time, so I probably got concussion!' Leaving aside any potential need for an HIA before training, Hibs boss David Gray will be hoping that Bowie keeps on trying the unexpected/unwise on a more regular basis. He has the ability to shift momentum, as he did after Partizan had stormed into a 2-0 lead, levelling the tie up at 2-2 on aggregate. The art of tormenting 'angry' and 'scared' defenders The No.9 also, for the second time in a week, drove the Belgrade defenders to distraction to such good effect that he forced the referee to dish out a red card. That doesn't happen by accident. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I feel like in the first leg, obviously, they tried to stay off me a little bit,' he said, adding: 'And then they get a bit angry because they're not getting the ball, and then they make silly fouls. That gives me a chance to go at them, and I feel like I thrive on that. 'They were obviously scared to try and get too tight for me, because I could just turn them. So over both legs, I feel like that was very important for us to get us up the pitch, and my part I played in that. 'I feel like they were dominating at the time. And then obviously, I scored, and then their guy got sent off a little bit after that, so it totally turned the tide of the game in our favour. 'I didn't feel like I needed to make something happen. But at half-time, Sammy (goalie coach Craig Samson) spoke to me, just telling me that there's a goal in this for me. I didn't think it would be like that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earning himself a reputation as a player for the grand occasion, Bowie ran himself into the ground last night. When his number came up after 113 minutes – plus injury time – of hard graft, though, he admits to feeling sick to his stomach. Well, everyone's been to a party that they never want to leave ... "The fans make it special,' he said, revealing: 'Nights like that are half the reason I came to this club, to get in Europe. 'Before the season started, we set ourselves the target of getting European group stage football. No matter whether that was Europa League or Conference League. So hopefully we can continue to have more big nights. 'I think you know at Hibs we never do things the easy way. So, I mean, obviously, Partizan scored in the last couple of seconds of the game, but then that brings out the character in us to go and win the game from there. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I mean, they score like, what, five seconds before the end of the 90? And my head's gone, and I'm like, oh no. Like, I'm just shouting into the sky. 'But we showed the character that we've had throughout. You've seen that, obviously, back to Aberdeen when we drew 3-3 here last season. The character that this squad has is unbelievable, and it's relentless, and, yeah, everyone knows that we've got character to go on and do well. 'When the final whistle went, it was just pure relief. Like, I came off five minutes before the end the extra time, and it's sickening. It's the worst feeling ever, just sat at the side watching, yeah. 'I would much rather be out there. Going back to the Midtjylland game, that was the worst ever. Like, them scoring goals like that in the extra time, me not even being on the pitch, it's sickening.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland claim staked - and keeper 'pulled out of shxx' Without actually banging doors and demanding to be put into the Scotland starting line-up, Bowie was eager to press his case when it was suggested he'd done himself no harm, saying: 'Definitely. Not even just my goal, I mean, my all-around performance. 'I feel like I'm definitely improving as my games go on, I'm just constantly trying to play as many games as I can, and I've done that. So that's six starts in a row now, and hopefully it can continue. 'I feel like I just need to try and put myself in that shop window, and hopefully I can keep doing that. I mean, as the weeks go on, I'm playing more and more games, getting into my sharpness, and yeah, I'm definitely bringing out the best in myself- and the lads are helping me do that as well. 'I feel like I'm getting there, almost fully fit now. I mean, you can see, like, in my performances, it's not as slack as what I was last season.I just need to keep ticking over, 90 minutes, 90 minutes, keep playing as much as I can, and the best will come for me.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a game full of characters, few showed as much grit as goalkeeper Smith, who was certainly culpable for a horrible second Partizan goal – yet bounced back from the brink of a crisis in remarkable fashion, pulling off save after stunning save at crucial stages of the contest. 'I feel like that's the type of player he is,' said Bowie. ' He made a mistake. He was sort of calming himself. He could have just erupted after that and made multiple errors 'But after that, it was unbelievable. And, obviously, he needs players to pull him out, to pull him out the shxx. He needs players to help him out, and, yeah, thankful we done that tonight. 'No one said anything to him at half-time. Like, he knew himself. Do you know what I mean? He's a big lad, and he's an old lad. He knows himself that he's made an error, but, yeah, as I say, people need to help him out and pull him out the shxx.'
Scotsman
12 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Scotland has a new number nine and Steve Clarke was there to witness the real deal in action
Hibs striker stakes claim with wonder goal and all-round performance Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... If Steve Clarke went to Easter Road on Thursday night with a question over Kieron Bowie, he got his answer. The 22-year-old Hibs striker is ready to become Scotland's new number nine. The national team head coach was among the 19,377 sell-out crowd to witness first-hand one of the greatest ever goals scored by a Scotsman in Europe with a dipping 35-yard volley that took the breath away. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But even without the early contender for the Puskas award - yes it was that good - Bowie's gargantuan display against Partizan Belgrade will make it very difficult for Clarke to select anyone else to lead the line against Denmark when the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign gets underway in Copenhagen in three weeks time. Hibs striker Kieron Bowie celebrates his 35 yard wonder strike against Partizan Belgrade. | SNS Group "What a goal. What a finish. What a player!" exclaimed co-commentator Michael Stewart as the BBC Scotland cameras beamed the stunning strike and individual performance to the nation. The former Hibs and Scotland midfielder is one of many pundits now saying the same thing - Bowie must start for Scotland. The Stark's spark For those of us who have followed Bowie's journey from the very beginning, this will come as no major surprise. This writer was in the Stark's Park press box when the then 16-year-old local schoolboy made his Raith Rovers debut in a League One match against Montrose in February 2019. Bowie would not turn professional until after completing his Higher exams a few months later - but even back then, in his first ever taste of senior football, it was clear he had enormous potential. Quick, strong, athletic, tenacious – he already had the raw elements required to meet the physical challenges of Scottish football, and the attitude to go with it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Derek Allan, the former rector of Kirkcaldy High School, described him as "a cracking lad with a tremendous attitude,' adding, "if he shows the same attitude on the pitch as he does at school then he will be a great asset to Raith Rovers.' That sentiment now rings true for Hibs, and will do for Scotland, sooner rather than later. Sold by Raith to Fulham less than a year after that debut, after scoring 10 times in 35 appearances, Bowie spent the next few years learning his trade in the Cottagers' academy and on two loan spells with Northampton Town. Kieron Bowie made his Scotland debut off the bench in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in June. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Signed by Hibs last summer, he is only now rising to prominence due to the hamstring issues that hampered his maiden season. In spite of his initial fitness struggles, there was early evidence of his capabilities when in his first Hibs appearance - coming off the bench against Celtic last August - he outmuscled Cameron Carter-Vickers, the strongest centre-back in the Premiership, before crashing a shot off the crossbar. Now fully fit, as shown by running the Belgrade defence ragged in his 115 minutes on the pitch, and with three goals in six appearances, Bowie looks the real deal. As assessment based not only on his forward play, but also his eagerness to track back and win the ball back for his side, which got the Hibs crowd off their feet on Thursday night and will have impressed Clarke no end. While Hibs fans will be looking forward to a full season of Bowie leading the line, the truth is the club may now face a battle to keep him beyond the end of the transfer window. Celtic and Rangers are both in the market for a striker and Bowie ticks a lot of boxes, including the Scottish one, with scouts from England no doubt filing highly complimentary reports. The reported £600,000 fee paid to Fulham already looks a bargain, and a multi-million pound bid could tempt Hibs to sell, although with Bowie tied up until 2028, there is no urgency to cash in on a player whose value will only continue to rise if his current trajectory is maintained. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Upgraded version of Dykes Bowie's suitability to start for Scotland next month is as much about his own abilities as the alternative options at Clarke's disposal. Lyndon Dykes has been a key figure under Clarke but his club career has tailed off to the extent that he cannot get into the Birmingham City starting 11 while his goals have dried up too. His last for Scotland came in June 2023 in the famous late turnaround against Norway in Oslo. Bowie, it could be argued, has the potential to be Dykes Mk2 - an upgrade on a player with similar attributes. Kieron Bowie scores a long range wonder strike against Partizan Belgrade at Easter Road. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group) | SNS Group Che Adams is another who Clarke has favoured in recent times, and his status as a regular starter and semi-regular scorer for Torino in Serie A cannot be ignored. But his performances for Scotland have been inconsistent at best and a hat-trick last time out against lowly Liechtenstein cannot gloss over the fact that his goals return at international level is below par. Tommy Conway and George Hirst have both been given a chance recently, but neither are in the bracket of Scotland starters at this stage, while Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet are on the periphery. Knowing Clarke, it would be no surprise if he opts for the experience of Dykes or Adams in Denmark, and perhaps he would be right to do so. It would be a brave call to start a player who has just one senior cap having made his Scotland debut off the bench against Liechtenstein in June in such a big match. But the Tartan Army will be willing him to unleash Bowie with the prospect of teaming up the in-form striker with the fit-again Ben Doak in attack an enticing one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I feel like I just need to try and put myself in that shop window, and hopefully I can keep doing that," he said of being watched by the Scotland boss while helping Hibs into the Uefa Conference League play-offs. 'As the weeks go on, I'm playing more and more games, getting into my sharpness, and I'm definitely bringing out the best in myself, and the lads are helping me do that as well.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Hearts and Hibs Premier Sports Cup odds ahead of St Mirren and Livingston ties
Hearts and Hibs will hope to take a step closer towards claiming major domestic silverware when they are in Premier Sports Cup action this weekend. The competition has now reached its last-16 stage and it will be Hearts that will be in action first when they travel to the SMISA Stadium to take on Premiership rivals St Mirren. That comes just 24 hours before Hibs look to build on the European heroics when they head to Livingston on Sunday afternoon. Aberdeen Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers will also enter the competition at this stage and there are a whole host of intriguing ties lying in wait over the week as clubs know they can move within potentially 180 minutes of walking out at Hampden Park in a major cup semi final - but who are current favourites to win this season's competition? 1 . Alloa Athletic Premier Sports Cup winners odds: 200/1 (Ladbrokes) | SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . Greenock Morton Premier Sports Cup winners odds: 66/1 (Ladbrokes) | SNS Group Photo Sales Related topics: Premiership
