4 days ago
Steve Clarke admits Cieran Slicker wasn't ready for Scotland debut as boss issues goalkeeping SOS for Liechtenstein
With Liam kelly injured, Clarke will take teenager Callan McKenna and try to find a more experienced option who isn't on holiday
Steve Clarke admits Cieran Slicker wasn't ready for his Scotland debut as he sent out a goalkeeping SOS for any Scottish keepers still in the country.
Slicker was thrown in at the deep after just a couple of minutes of the 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Iceland. Angus Gunn suffered an injury with his first involvement and after Rangers stopper Liam Kelly had pulled out of the warm up, Slicker was given the nod from the bench ahead of Kilmarnock's Robby McCrorie.
Ipswich keeper Slicker has played just NINE minute of football over the course of the season and it showed, as he sclaffed a clearance for Iceland's first goal, fumbled a corner that saw Lewis Ferguson put past him for the second and let Victor Palsson's header go straight through him for the third.
With veteran Craig Gordon injured along with Tyencastle understudy Zander Clark, the Scotland boss isn't sure where he's going to find another one at this stage before flying to Liechtenstein for Monday's game.
He'll try and find one to take alongside kid gloves Callan McKenna, but did admit he had sympathy for Slicker after a debut to forget.
"It's difficult for Cieran. I feel for him," said Clarke. "He got thrown into a situation where he maybe wasn't quite ready for it. But Craig's injured, Liam Kelly's injured, Zander Clark was injured.
"I mentioned back in March that it was something I thought might come back to bite us. The only good thing is it came in a friendly match.
"I don't know (about Gunn's injury). If he comes off in the first couple of minutes then I imagine he's not going to play the next game.
For sure I'll try and call up another goalkeeper. I've had young Callan McKenna who's just turned 18-years of age, training with us and he'll travel. I'll see if I can find another one somewhere in Scotland that's not on holiday.
"It was a disappointing night didn't get off to a great start , we lost our No2 goalie in the warm up and then we lost our No1 goalie after a couple of minutes. We then immediately compound that by conceding the first goal. That made it difficult.
"We created some chances then got back in the game. But conceded another poor goal which makes it a difficult night."
