Steve Clarke has named his Scotland squad for the double header against Slovakia and Czech Republic – those old enough to remember will tell you when this would’ve been just one game – and he has named three Rangers players.
Your Scotland squad for our play-off against Israel and our UEFA Nations League matches against Slovakia and Czech Republic.
Let’s do this. pic.twitter.com/jsJnmxLauA
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) September 29, 2020
Robby McCrorie and Jon McLaughlin have again been called up but perhaps surprisingly, the inclusion of Ryan Jack in midfield is one that will raise a few eyebrows for those of a Light Blue persuasion with him currently out injured and not having kicked a ball for a couple of weeks.
Clarke explained his decision to pick the Rangers midfielder despite his current fitness levels, as reported by Rangers News:
“I think the situation with Ryan is that he’s picked up an injury and missed a few weeks for Rangers.
“He’s working back towards training and he’s back out on the training ground, not fully with the team but with the physios, so we can select him and see how the situation develops over the next seven days.”
Last season the Scotland boss was forced into an apology after Jack aggravated a knee injury on international duty following an Old Firm game, to say that Steven Gerrard was unimpressed is an understatement, as he criticised Clarke for displaying a “lack of respect“.
Should Jack report for international duty?
Yes
No
The call-up could benefit Rangers though, if Jack is fit enough to attend, but only if he is actually going to see any game time, otherwise he would be better served by staying at the training centre and working on his rehabilitation and training with his club mates – sitting on the bench for two games and watching whilst his teammates work on shape is not likely to accelerate his return to action.