Scotland have 'massive issue' in goalkeeping department

BBC News

15-06-2025

"The only good thing is it came in a friendly match."Those were the words of head coach Steve Clarke when he talked about Cieran Slicker's nightmare debut for Scotland, as the 22-year-old made a few costly errors in the recent loss to Iceland.He may have been talking about the mistakes, but he could also have been referring to the dazzling spotlight on the goalkeeping crisis in the country."What we've had for years is three top-quality goalkeepers," former Scotland keeper Cammy Bell told Sportsound. "Elite level in [David] Marshall, [Allan] McGregor and Craig Gordon. "We've been spoiled in that department. If one was injured, we had another who could step in at the exact same level. "Now, we've got a massive drop-off."There is some debate around who Clarke's first-choice would be if all options were fit. Would it be Hearts' legendary shot-stopper Gordon, or the currently unattached Gunn?"Craig Gordon, for me, is 100% the number one for Scotland at this moment in time," Bell added. "He's 42 years-old and he will be retiring soon. Where do we go after that?"Angus Gunn is the one that Scotland fans are unsure about. He's done okay when he's played but he's had a few injures. When he gets injured, where do we go?"Clarke took Zander Clark and Liam Kelly to the Euros last summer ahead of Gordon, who has now ambitiously aimed for the 2026 World Cup next summer, should Scotland qualify. But what about after that?"It's difficult," Bell said. "Zander Clark isn't playing at Hearts at the moment, he's 32-years-old. Robby McCrorie couldn't hold down the number one spot at Kilmarnock. He's not played a lot of football."Liam Kelly got a few games towards the end of the season, but looks as if he's probably number two at Rangers and won't play a lot of football."Ross Doohan came in, did a good job. Made his debut, kept a clean sheet. Looks as if he's going to join Celtic as a number two, possibly a number three."Scott Bain might come back into the frame because he's joined Falkirk to get some more football. But he's 33, not that young either."There is huge question marks. There's no getting away from it. We have a massive issue in the goalkeeping department."