MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 23:00:29| >> :600:858016:858016:

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: 'No fresh approach for Che Adams'

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: 'No fresh approach for Che Adams'
© Reuters
Steve Clarke's predecessor Alex McLeish failed in a bid to persuade the former England Under-20 international.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke will not make any fresh approach to call up Southampton striker Che Adams.

Clarke's predecessor Alex McLeish failed in a bid to persuade the former England Under-20 international, who was then a Birmingham player, to switch allegiances in February 2019.

Reports last month claimed Adams would possibly reconsider and that Scotland were still monitoring his progress.

But Clarke insists any move must come from the 24-year-old, who has scored four Premier League goals for Southampton this season.

Steve Clarke will not make any move for Che Adams
Steve Clarke will not make any move for Che Adams (Martin Baumann/TASR)

The Scotland boss told Sky Sports: "I'm not having any conversations with Che. He's been approached before about playing for the Scotland national team and I believe – I don't know for a fact, but I believe – he was approached before and decided that he was going to wait, he didn't want to commit to Scotland.

"I'm a Scotsman, born and bred, and I think if people have been approached to play for Scotland and turned us down, then the onus should be on them to come back and say, 'listen, I've had a rethink, I want to be part of the Scotland national team.' They could maybe come to us and ask if we'd consider him.

"I've got Stuart Armstrong at Southampton. I'm sure Stuart's in his ear all the time telling him how good it is to be part of the Scotland national squad.

"If I can get one or two players to come in and help the squad, that would be great. But if I have to go with the squad of players that qualified us for the first time in 23 years, then that's what I will do.

"Those players have been magnificent for me and I think it's very, very, important that I show that loyalty."

Manchester United's Scott McTominay scores his side's first goal against Leeds
Manchester United's Scott McTominay scores his side's first goal against Leeds (Michael Regan/PA)

Meanwhile, Clarke admits he hopes to get Scott McTominay back into midfield one day but will not upset the balance of his team to do so.

McTominay has been playing on the right of a back three for Scotland in recent games but the Manchester United midfielder showed his attacking prowess by firing in two impressive goals against Leeds at the weekend.

"Eventually I'd like to get Scott back into midfield, if I could do," Clarke said.

"But I won't upset the balance of the team, or the shape of the team, just to do that.

"If I haven't got the right personnel to play the three-at-the-back system, then maybe I will go back to a four.

"There will be plenty of matches where two central defenders will be enough and then there will be a chance for Scott to go back into midfield."

ID:427851: cacheID:427851:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6840:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Scotland manager Steve Clarke pictured on November 15, 2020
Read Next:
Scotland manager Steve Clarke cautiously optimistic about "dangerous draw"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!