Clarke hits out at 'negative Normans' and urges 'just relax and enjoy it'

Steve Clarke has urged Scotland’s doubters to have faith in the squad and enjoy the European Championship journey.

The national team received criticism from some quarters over their performance in the 2-0 win over Gibraltar earlier in the week.

But as Clarke doesn’t understand the negativity as he prepares his side to take on Finland in their final warm-up game before flying off to Germany.

He said: “Anytime I read or hear anything from someone who wants to be a negative Norman I just dismiss it, because what is there to be negative about?

“We are going into another major tournament, the squad is in a good place, we are all determined to do as well as we can for our country, so why not just relax and enjoy it?

“That’s what we are going to try and do, obviously we have to produce the goods on the pitch and that’s what we’ll do.

“I just don’t understand what anyone could be negative about – a second European Championship in a row and a really good squad of players who have shown how good they are for their country.

“So let’s get behind them and give them a real chance.”

Clarke was also speaking about his decision to call up Lewis Morgan after the New York Red Bulls forward was brought in to replace teenage Liverpool winger Ben Doak following an impressive season in the MLS.

And the Scotland boss says the former Celtic and St Mirren star can offer “something a little bit different” to what he has available.

He said: “We lost Ben Doak, so you have to look around at your options and decide what your best options are and it came down to Lewis.

“He can bring us something a little bit different. He’s obviously gone to the MLS and had a great time out there and it shows that we look far and wide for players.

“It’s disappointing to lose the players we’ve lost, but I think in Tommy Conway and Lewis Morgan we have two good additions to the squad.”

Following the game against Finland at Hampden on Friday, Scotland will fly out to their base camp in Germany and prepare for next week’s tournament opener against the hosts in Munich.