Angus Gunn’s return and no Motherwell players: key takeaways from Scotland’s March squad

Although the team, as expected, has a familiar atmosphere, Clarke was clear that there is still room for players to play their way into the group that heads to the United States in June, where it will face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.

He said that there were four other players he wanted to include in the team for the matches between Japan and Ivory Coast, but injuries deprived him of that opportunity.

“There are some players I feel I need to take a look at,” Clark explained. “A lot can change over the next 10 weeks before you choose your final lineup.

“We hope there are no serious injuries but it can happen and it has happened to us before, so we have to be prepared to cover all the bases.

“There are a few players who could have been in the team who aren’t in the team, but I know what they can do.

“I have other players in the team that maybe I’m not yet convinced of what they can and can’t do. So, let’s take a look and see what happens.”

“There’s always room for someone else, a stranger.”

Only Curtis, Sparta Prague midfielder Andy Irving and Wrexham defender Dom Hyam are the new faces as of November, once key players returning from injury are discounted.

Hiyam, who plays every week for Wrexham in the Championship play-off, could have a lot to gain if he is given time to show what he can do.

Nathan Patterson, who had difficulty dealing with injuries at Everton, also has a great opportunity to prove he is the man to replace Aaron Hickey at right-back after starting his career in Scotland strongly before moving to England.