Steve Clarke has not sought any form of ensures from Elliot Anderson concerning the midfielder’s Scotland future.
The Whitley Bay-born Newcastle United participant, who has a Scottish grandmother, has performed at youth degree for each Scotland and England.
The 20-year-old was referred to as up by the Scotland boss for the primary time for the Euro 2024 qualifier towards Cyprus in Larnaca on Friday and the problem match towards England at Hampden Park subsequent week after deciding towards switching allegiance to England following optimistic discussions with Clarke.
Nevertheless, Anderson formally withdrew from the squad on Wednesday evening after selecting up an damage in coaching.
Requested on the pre-match media convention in Cyprus if he had sought any assurances from Anderson, the Scotland boss stated: “No. He simply went residence.”
The Scotland boss had already been requested if he had any fears surrounding worldwide allegiances, and had stated: “It’s not one thing I can management.
“There’s not so much I can do about it. Clearly (disappointing to not have the prospect to work with Elliot), that’s why we introduced him into the squad.
“Disappointing to lose Elliot and Liam (Kelly) on the identical day however that’s half and parcel of worldwide soccer, you take care of it.
“Clearly we needed to changed Liam as a result of we couldn’t include two goalkeepers so we introduced in younger Robby (McCrorie). who has been a part of the squad earlier than, he understands. We didn’t want to interchange Elliot as a result of we’ve sufficient midfielders.”
Scotland prime Group A with 4 wins from 4 and have gone eight aggressive video games with out defeat.
An anticipated victory towards Cyprus, who have been crushed 3-0 at Hampden Park, may see Scotland qualify for a second successive Euros subsequent Tuesday if outcomes elsewhere go their approach.
Nevertheless, Clarke – whose facet is predicted to be backed by round 6,000 followers in a stadium which has a capability of 8,058 – performed down the thrilling prospect of going to Germany subsequent summer time.
He stated: “I’m not actually the excitable sort, am I? Simply concentrating on the sport developing. The gamers are in a superb place, they’re a superb place within the group.
“At midway we’ve most factors, you may’t do significantly better than that. A few of the moments throughout the sport we will enhance on.
“We don’t suppose for a minute that we’re the completed article, we are going to look to enhance and the gamers have stated that we are going to. We wish to hold enhancing and enhancing however all the time respect the opponent.
“Will probably be tough. They’re a proud workforce, proud to symbolize their nation, Cyprus. They’re all the time tough opponents for us. Two late objectives in all probability put a bit of gloss on the scoreline (at Hampden) so we anticipate a troublesome sport.”
A lot is being fabricated from the excessive temperatures in Cyprus however Clarke was relaxed concerning the 9.45pm native time kick-off.
He stated: “After we got here off the airplane final evening in the back of 10 the situations have been OK.
“It was fairly sizzling in Norway after we went there so we’ve some expertise and it was good and sunny in Glasgow after we left so that you simply need to take care of the situations as they’re and ensure we get the end result that we wish.”