Steve Clarke hoping Findlay Curtis can match Ben Gannon-Doak’s Scotland impact
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke hopes Findlay Curtis can make a similar international impact to Ben Gannon-Doak after handing the 19-year-old a surprise call-up.
The Rangers winger is the only uncapped player in Clarke’s squad for friendlies against Japan and the Ivory Coast after impressing in six loan games with Kilmarnock.
Curtis has scored three goals in 26 appearances for Rangers and has one Scotland Under-21 cap.
“He came into the Rangers team, I liked him,” Clarke said. “I thought he was quite direct, tries to make things happen.
“I went to watch him live at the weekend, I thought he was decent. He’s quick, direct, asks defenders to defend, so it’s something a little bit different.
“Obviously Ben Gannon-Doak had a big, big impact on the squad, and certainly the media and the Scottish public, because he’s something a little bit different. Findlay can hopefully give us something similar.
“He’s not exactly the same type of player as Ben, but something similar.”
A familiar midfield line-up includes Andrew Irving of Sparta Prague, while Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway is recalled.
Gannon-Doak has been left out as he awaits his comeback with Bournemouth following five months out with a hamstring injury. Injury has also seen Aaron Hickey, Craig Gordon and Lawrence Shankland drop out while Josh Doig is absent.
Clarke said: “Obviously a squad where you’re preparing for a World Cup in the summer is a little bit different. Some injuries, some boys right on the cusp of coming back from injury, whether to pick them, whether not to pick them. Some players who I feel I need to have a look at.
“There’s a few players that could have been in the squad, are not in the squad, but I know what they can do.
“I’ve got other players that are in the squad that I’m maybe not convinced yet about what they can and can’t do, so let’s have a look and see what happens.
“There’s always room for someone else. There’s always room for an outsider.
“Off the top of my head, there’s probably four players that would have been in this squad if they hadn’t been injured.”
Falkirk’s Scott Bain is the only goalkeeper playing regularly, with Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly only managing four club games between them this season.
“It’s something I’ll have a chat with Chris Woods about, my goalkeeping coach,” Clarke said. “I’ll have a chat with the goalies that are in the squad and then I’ll decide.”
There are no Hearts or Motherwell players included despite their impressive seasons with the likes of Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, Elliott Watt and Stephen Welsh missing out.
“Both those teams have been exceptional this year,” Clarke said. “But maybe the team is better than the sum of the parts, which is a credit to the coaching staff and the managers.”