Scotland squad to face Turkiye named as Calvin Ramsay…

Scotland squad to face Turkiye named as Calvin Ramsay included with Celtic stars left out

Steve Clarke has named his Scotland squad to face Turkiye in a friendly later this month.

The Dark Blues play their final game of the year with all focus turning towards European qualifying early next year. The national team secured a guaranteed play-off spot for the tournament after finishing top of their Nations League section following a final day draw away to Ukraine. That result also secured promotion to League A next time around.

There is a real feel good factor surrounding the Scotland team at the moment following the success last time around that featured two wins and a draw from three international outings. It kicked off with a big home win over Ukraine before following that up with another Hampden triumph over Republic of Ireland before a share of the spoils in Poland in the return match with Ukraine.

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No Celtic players make up part of the squad after Ange Postecoglou revealed before the announcement that none would be released to the national team with the Hoops' trip to Australia viewed as a key part of preparations for the second half of the season as they bid to retain their title they won from Rangers last term with the gap sitting at seven points with two games to play until the World Cup shutdown.

He said: "From our perspective, the Australian trip is an important part of our football club and we want to take our strongest possible team there.

“We will always be supportive of the national team and Steve Clarke has always been great with us in terms of his relationship with the club. But all of our players who won’t be going to the World Cup will be coming with us.

“We’re obviously taking a team to Australia. People have bought tickets and want to see the best possible Celtic side.

"Obviously, we can’t take the players who are going to the World Cup, but we have obligations there to the people who have spent the money that we go there with the strongest possible team and that’s what we’ll be doing.”