No theatre or Scotland curveballs from loyal Clarke

Breaking news from the world of sport: No theatre or Scotland curveballs from loyal ClarkeImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ross Stewart is recalled to the Scotland squad, but Oli McBurnie misses outByTom English Scotland's chief sports writerPublished52 minutes agoA little after midday on Tuesday, the Scotland head coach power-walked into the Hampden auditorium in the manner of a wrestler heading for the ring; Stone Cold Steve Clarke was in the building. Clarke threw his World Cup squad sheet on the table and cupped his ears to the assembled media. "What are you saying to it?

Then, with a mad flourish, he put his hands to his eyes as if looking through binoculars. "America, here we come," he cried. Clarke's aversion to theatre meant the first Scotland World Cup squad announcement in nearly 30 years was about as humdrum as could be, no fanfare from the manager, nothing to separate it from any other squad announcement.

Match Details

On social media, the Scottish FA did its best to bring an element of drama to it, but Clarke was never going to play along with that. A friendly game against, er, whoever, or a momentous day for the Scottish national team and the chosen ones bound for the States - same difference. Consistency, normality, an unchanging vibe.

Figure caption, Clarke on naming Stewart in World Cup squad'Big game scorer' Stewart and Curtis make Scotland World Cup squad Published5 hours agoWorld Cup quiz: Name every player in Scotland's squad Published3 hours ago'We understand the magnitude' - Scotland World Cup squad announcement as it happened 'No McBurnie while Clarke is in charge'Beforehand, we knew most things, pretty much. We knew because Clarke said a few weeks ago that the squad was more or less set in his head already. He values loyalty like he appreciates his next breath, so while others made the case for Oli McBurnie, Oliver Burke, Kieron Bowie, Stephen Welsh and others, Clarke would barely have noticed.

You got the sense that McBurnie could have scored a hat-trick in every game in the last two months of the season and Clarke would have been unmoved. Maybe he doesn't fancy him as a footballer, maybe he doesn't fancy him as a human being. We weren't expecting fireworks, but there was, at least, a story or two.

Reactions and Expectations

Findlay Curtis, the bit-part and underappreciated 19-year-old from Rangers, is included after a productive loan spell at Kilmarnock. In taking a few steps down the Premiership table, Curtis propelled himself forward into a promised land. Ross Stewart, a striker injury-plagued and largely ignored in the Clarke era, was selected on the back of stellar form for his club, Southampton.

Stewart's goals and power and all-round work-rate is obvious. Sadly, his injury profile has been just as prevalent.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.