Steve Clarke has named a 23-man squad to face Turkey; Calvin Ramsay gets his first Scotland call-up after making his Liverpool debut; Celtic’s players miss out due to the club’s tour of Australia; the friendly takes place at Diyarbakir Stadium on November 16 live on Sky Sports
Liverpool’s Calvin Ramsay has been handed his first Scotland call-up for the friendly in Turkey but no Celtic players have been selected due to the club’s tour of Australia.
While Callum McGregor was unlikely to feature due to injury, his Celtic team-mates Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor and David Turnbull – who made the last squad – will not be in the 23-man group.
It’s after Parkhead boss Ange Postecoglou revealed the club are not required to release players for the match and will instead prioritise their trip to Australia which takes place during the World Cup.
Head coach Steve Clarke expressed his “disappointment” at not being able to take the Celtic players.
“The base-line is that it’s not an official international window,” he said. “I don’t know why because there’s a World Cup window going on. That sounds pretty official to me.
“The clubs don’t have to release their players and Celtic have chosen not to release their players for this game. I’m disappointed with that decision but we have to take it on the chin.”
Players like Greg Taylor (right) are not in the Scotland squad due to Celtic’s tour of Australia
Clarke added that he has had no personal dialogue with anyone at Celtic over their stance.
“It was just a blanket decision,” he said. “Celtic have said none of their players are available for any international games for all the countries affected.
“The biggest issue for me is that it’s not a recognised FIFA international window. I can’t get my head round that one. It’s disappointing but we’ll deal with it.”
Ramsay, however, takes his place in the squad for the first time after making his Liverpool debut against Napoli.
The right-back will be joined by club team-mate and Scotland captain Andy Robertson who returns after missing the last camp due to injury.
“I want to have a look at Calvin,” said Clarke on Ramsay’s inclusion in the squad. “I know what he did at Aberdeen, he got a fantastic move to Liverpool and he made his debut at Anfield in the Champions League, which is not a bad start.
“He had an interrupted start to his Liverpool career because they found an injury but they’ve treated it well and he’s had time to come through it.
“I’m missing a couple of players in that position anyway, so it’s a chance to get Calvin in and have a look.”
Clarke will also be able to call upon Nathan Patterson and Kieran Tierney who suffered injuries during those UEFA Nations League fixtures.
Grant Hanley, Ryan Jack and Lewis Ferguson are also in the squad, however, Aaron Hickey is injured and misses out.
Scotland squad in full
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Liam Kelly (Motherwell), Robby McCrorie (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Jack Hendry (on loan at Cremonese), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Ryan Porteous (Hibernian), Calvin Ramsay (Liverpool), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Ryan Jack (Rangers), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Jacob Brown (Stoke City), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United).
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