Steve Clarke: My team selection for Scotland v Japan at Hampden 'may raise an eyebrow a bit'

Scotland boss Steve Clarke revealed his team selection to face Japan at Barclays Hampden on Saturday might “raise an eyebrow a little bit”.

The Scots begin their preparation for the 2026 World Cup finals in North America this summer with a home game against the Japanese and another challenge match on Tuesday night against the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium.

Teenage Kilmarnock attacker Findlay Curtis – who is on loan from Rangers – was a surprise first inclusion in the squad, while Wrexham centre-back Dominic Hyam and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway were recalled.

Others such as Scott Bain, Dom Hyam, George Hirst, Andrew Irving and Ross McCrorie will be looking to make their mark and Clarke is ready to spring a surprise or two.

He said: “Every game with the national team should be an important game, so they’re both important in terms of preparation for the summer, very important.

“To play games against two top quality teams from different continents, they’ll bring their own challenge – the Japanese side in particular.

“A very interesting way of playing. I found them a really good team to watch in the preparation for the game, the way they play, the way they approach matches, so it will be tough game for us.

“We will look at one or two things that are different, maybe use one or two different personnel across the squad, but also to try to get positive results that we can continue to feel good about ourselves.

“Obviously we have quite a number of players that are maybe coming back from a longer term injury or carrying a niggle at this stage in the season so some of the selections might raise an eyebrow a little bit.

“But my job is to make sure that the players come out of these games fit and well, ready for the end of the season at their clubs and obviously to be ready for the summer.”

Clarke believes the demise of Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland in the play-off semi-finals on Thursday night demonstrated how well Scotland did to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, by winning their group which included Denmark and Greece.

The Welsh lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties as the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, while Northern Ireland went down 2-0 in Italy.

Republic of Ireland were also beaten on penalties by Czech Republic, and Clarke said: “I think it shows you the perils of being in the play-off system if you have an off night and in the case of both Wales and the Republic of Ireland, lose late goals and suddenly you’re in extra-time and you end up with a penalty shootout.

“Last night, we watched pretty much all the games, we had a split screen with three or four games on it and it was nice to be in a position where we weren’t involved in those games.

“I think it also shows the measure of how well our team did in qualifying direct for the tournament. To finish top of our group and in front of a good Denmark and Greece side is something we should be proud of, I thought it was good.”