Steve Clarke has used Scotland's World Cup squad announcement to reinforce a familiar selection habit. Oliver McBurnie is out again despite scoring 18 goals for Hull City this season, and Clarke's explanation was blunt enough to leave no doubt that trust still matters more to him than form alone. The Scotland boss also made clear he expects his own contract situation to be settled before the team fly out.

Why McBurnie was left out again

McBurnie said Clarke told him the squad is built on loyalty, with Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes ahead of him. Clarke's own version of events was harsher in tone. "I thought that was a private conversation, to be honest," he said. "He should not have gone to the media." He added: "It's just the way I work, I tend to stick to players I've had before. I trust them."

The form case is obvious. McBurnie has 18 goals for Hull and was left out while Ross Stewart returned after four years away from international football. The international record, though, is less persuasive for McBurnie's camp. He has 16 Scotland caps, won the last of them five years ago, and still has not scored for his country. That is why Clarke feels comfortable backing familiarity over a noisy public case for recall.

Clarke's wider message on Scotland

The squad announcement did not stay on selection alone. Clarke also defended the Scotland supporters who followed the team, saying the Tartan Army showed people can enjoy themselves without going on the pitch. He contrasted that with the scenes after Celtic's title win over Heart Of Midlothian, and with the pitch invasions at Celtic and Rangers' Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, which left police and fans injured.

His line was firm, but not reckless. Clarke said the Scotland fans were "top supporters" in Germany and would make more friends in the States. He also said invading the pitch is "not right" because player safety is endangered. The balance here matters, because he was not condemning all celebration, just the kind that crosses into the players' space.

The other moving part is Clarke himself. His contract expires at the end of the World Cup tournament, and he said, "I am pretty sure it will be" sorted before boarding the plane. That is still not a done deal, but it does not read like a man preparing to create a bigger distraction than necessary before Scotland open against Haiti, then face Morocco and Brazil.

For now, Clarke has made his position plain. He trusts the players he knows, he is standing by his view of fan behaviour, and McBurnie remains outside the frame despite 18 goals for Hull and a stronger club season than his international history suggests.

FAQ

Why did Steve Clarke leave Oliver McBurnie out of Scotland's World Cup squad?

Clarke said he tends to stick with players he has used before and trusts. McBurnie said Clarke told him the squad is built on loyalty, with Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes ahead of him. Clarke also left McBurnie out while calling up Ross Stewart, who had been absent from international football for four years.

What did Steve Clarke say about Scotland fans and pitch invasions?

Clarke praised the Tartan Army for showing they can celebrate without going on the pitch. He also said the scenes at Celtic Park were not good for Scottish football, called it a bad look and said pitch invasions endanger player safety.

Will Steve Clarke's Scotland contract be sorted before the World Cup?

Clarke said he is pretty sure it will be sorted before boarding the plane and added that would be the plan. His contract expires at the end of the World Cup tournament, so the situation is still unresolved for now.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →