3 days ago
Kieran Tierney to join illustrious Scotland club as Steve Clarke aims to fix record that makes him wince
Returning Celtic hero Tierney is poised to enter the Hampden Hall of Fame
Kieran Tierney will enter the Scotland Hall of Fame tomorrow and Steve Clarke has backed him to go deep into his next 50 caps.
The returning Celtic defender will hit the half century in the Hampden friendly against Iceland.
Clarke admitted he was a key man when he first took over and that remains the case for the national team.
He stated: 'Obviously, he's shown his worth. His career, he's a top, top player. We're lucky to have him.
'In recent years, he's had one or two little injury issues that's probably restricted his number of caps. He's one of those players that we identified very early.
'I remember going down to London to meet him. He'd just moved to Arsenal to speak to him about his role within the squad and what we expected from him. Since then, we've had a really good relationship. We should be grateful that we've got him.
'It doesn't stop at 50 and the caps keep coming. That's what I set out to do, to cap a number of players that would be the core of the squad moving forward.
'So many players in the squad now that are over 50. Kieran's just another one to add to that.'
Scotland have friendlies against Iceland and then travel to Liechtenstein next week. It has been the end of a long, hard season but none of their big hitters have bowed out - while the likes of Lyndon Dykes have been moaning they have been left out.
Clarke stated: "Since I came here, this group of players have always said that they are so committed to coming and performing for the country. Every time I pick a squad, they all want to be here.
'One or two of them have called me up in this camp that I haven't selected, asking me to select them, but if they're not quite fit, then obviously I can't do that.
'I'm sure you'll hear from Dyksie soon enough.'
Scotland haven't got a great recent friendly record and that is something the national boss has been quick to remind his team and wants addressed.
'It's not very good,' the national boss acknowledged.
'It's funny, I was at a couple of functions recently with Gordon Strachan and we were talking about it. We were trying to work out why it would be that the record in friendly football is so poor.
'It would be nice to make it, it would be nice to improve that record a little bit in the next two games. But why it happens, I'm not quite sure.
'Obviously, in friendly football you get a chance to make six substitutions and the feeling is that you should make those six substitutions. So sometimes that can disrupt the rhythm of the team a little bit.
'I'm thinking last year when we were travelling home to Finland, it was a game that we had at home really and then you make changes and the game sort of drifts away from you a little bit.
'So that could be one thing that affects it. But it would be nice to make the record a little bit better.'
Clarke expects a tough challenge from tomorrow's opponents.
He warned: 'Iceland has got a good record. Probably a little bit disappointed in the Nations League group stage and then obviously they got involved in a play-off that they lost.
'So similar to ourselves, got involved in a play-off that they lost. They've shown they're a good team. This time last year they went to Wembley, a friendly, and beat England, so we know they're a threat.
"They're a very ambitious team. 'They're a threat going forward. They're very open. They want to have a go at you. 'So it should be good entertaining game.'
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