STEVE Clarke has expressed confidence that Angus Gunn can win round any Scotland fans who are unhappy about his previous desire to play for England after selecting the Norwich City goalkeeper in his squad for the opening Euro 2024 qualifiers against Cyprus and Spain.
Gunn, the son of former Aberdeen, Norwich and Scotland keeper Bryan, represented England, where he was born and brought up, at age-group level and decided to remain a part of their senior set-up when he was approached by former national manager Alex McLeish about switching allegiances in 2018.
Clarke persuaded the 6ft 5in player – who was uncapped despite being called up by Gareth Southgate in the past - to commit his future to his adopted homeland after Craig Gordon suffered a double leg break in December that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.
The Scotland manager, who stressed that his new recruit is not guaranteed a start ahead of Zander Clark of Hearts and Liam Kelly of Motherwell in the Group A games at Hampden later this month, has no issues whatsoever with the length of time it has taken the 27-year-old to arrive at his decision.
He is, too, certain the Tartan Army will embrace Gunn if he is given the nod to replace Gordon and helps Scotland to get their bid to reach the finals in Germany next summer off to a positive start – just like they have with Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes in the past.
“When I lost my No 1 goalkeeper to a long-term injury I looked at the depth within the goalkeeping squad and there wasn’t a lot there,” said Clarke at Hampden yesterday as he announced his 23 man squad for the Cyprus and Spain double header.
“I heard that Angus was receptive to changing nationality to play for Scotland like his dad did before him. I just thought it was an opportunity to go and speak to him. I drove to Norwich and we had a great conversation. Fortunately for us, he has decided to come and play for us.
“We just had an honest conversation about where his head was, what he was thinking. He was quite honest. He didn’t feel he was in a position to commit when he was asked before. He was born in England and wanted to see how it panned out. He’d been through the English FA system, which a lot of players have done.
“He probably thinks that playing for Scotland is his best chance to play international football. But that’s a conversation I’ve had with other players and that’s just the reality of it. He has decided to come and play for us and it gives more options and more competition in that area, where I feel we are a little bit light.”
Clarke added: “You have to be careful with people with dual nationality. You have to respect that they’ve got a choice to make. It’s pretty easy for me as a Scotsman with a Scottish mum and dad and Scottish grandparents. It’s easy. I never had that choice to make and it can be a difficult choice to make.
“When he was first asked, he would have been a young man and when you are asking them to commit so early in their life, it can be difficult. Elliot Anderson has a similar decision to make and is still a young man of 20. I’ve had a conversation with Elliot and he wants to bide his time and see what happens.
“I have spoken to a few players over the period, but that’s part of the job and it’s something I will continue to do. Those conversations will remain pretty private because I think that’s the best way to move forward.”
Adams, who was eligible to play for England and Antigua and Barbuda as well as Scotland, and Dykes, who could have represented Australia, have both established themselves as firm favourites with Tartan Army footsoldiers since choosing to represent this country.
Clarke has no doubts that Gunn, who was bought by Southampton for £13m back in 2018 is the leading shot stopper in the Championship this season with a save percentage of 75.3, can endear himself to supporters as well if he is picked to face Cyprus on Saturday week.
“We worked with Che and waited for the right moment,” he said. “If Angus does half as well for us as Che Adams, we’ll be alright. It comes down to how you play. That’s the only way to move forward. “It just comes down to performance. If you pick a player to play for Scotland and he plays well the fans will love him.”
Clarke, though, stressed that he is still undecided who will replace Gordon and will monitor Clark, Gunn and Kelly closely in training at Lesser Hampden next week along with his coaching staff before making his choice.
Asked what he liked about Gunn, he said: “Size, shape, reliability. He’s got the best save percentage in the Championship this season. He’s a decent goalkeeper.
“But Zander has had a good season as well and Liam has been in almost every squad I’ve picked. He’s had a tougher season at Motherwell, but seems to have come through that and have had better results and performances.
“The keepers have a clean slate. None of them have got any caps. It’s a clear week into the first game, so they have to show me, John Carver and Chris Woods, the goalkeeping coach, what they can do and then we’ll make a choice.
“I don’t guarantee anyone a game. I did that once way back early in my managerial career and it was the wrong thing to do. I have never done it again.”
