Scotland call up Doak, McCrorie & Forrest for Euros

Uncapped Liverpool teenager Ben Doak is a shock inclusion in Steve Clarke’s provisional Scotland squad for Euro 2024.

The 18-year-old is yet to start a Premier League match and has recently resumed training after a knee operation in December.

Celtic winger James Forrest is recalled nearly three years since his last international appearance and there is a place for uncapped Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie.

The 28-man list must be trimmed to 26 by 7 June.

Head coach Clarke retains four goalkeepers, including veteran Craig Gordon, with one expected to be cut.

Scotland warm-up with friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland before opening the tournament against hosts Germany on 14 June.

Scotland’s other Group A opponents are Switzerland and Hungary.

Seventeen of those chosen were Clarke picks at the delayed Euro 2020.

McCrorie, 26, has been in senior squads before and the versatile former Rangers and Aberdeen player was a fixture at Under-21 level, playing 20 times over a four-year period.

He missed the first half of this campaign through injury but has since been a regular for Bristol City, filling in at right-back, wing-back and central defence.

Doak has two goals in six Under-21 outings for his country.

He made three Europa League starts and one in the EFL Cup in the early part of the season, along with a cameo on the opening day of the Premier League campaign.

Scotland have lost Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson and Lewis Ferguson to injuries, while there must be concerns over Doak, Grant Hanley, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Jack.

Southampton midfielder Armstrong is recovering from a hamstring problem sustained last month, while defender Hanley was an unused substitute in both legs of Norwich City’s play-off loss, having missed most of the season with an Achilles issue.

Jack has not played for Rangers since early March.

Doak, Hanley and Jack are not the only ones with limited game time this term.

The absence of Hickey and Patterson has propelled Anthony Ralston to the front of the right-back queue.

However, the 25-year-old with eight caps has only started eight games for Celtic in all competitions.

Liam Cooper is an influential dressing room character for Leeds and Scotland but has started just eight league games.

At the age of 41, Gordon, the second choice goalkeeper at the last Euros, has managed a mere seven matches since breaking his leg in December 2022.

Forrest made only three Celtic starts prior to April. However, he was reinstated for four post-split Premiership matches, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

At the other end of the scale, Aston Villa captain John McGinn has played in 61 matches for club and country.

Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Heart of Midlothian), Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian), Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Liam Kelly (Motherwell)

Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forrest), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United)

Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Ben Doak (Liverpool), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), James Forrest (Celtic), Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian)