JOHN Carver, the Scotland assistant manager, tonight stated that Dominic Hyam, the Blackburn Rovers defender, could feature in the opening Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus.,
Hyam was called into the Scotland squad along with Celtic right back Anthony Ralston today after Jack Hendry of Club Brugge was forced to withdraw due to injury.
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The 27-year-old, who has previously featured for his adopted homeland’s under-19 and under-21 sides, has never been capped at full international level.
However, Carver stressed the centre half has every chance of featuring in the Group A game at Hampden on Saturday if he impresses manager Steve Clarke in training at Lesser Hampden this week.
“Dom is one we have been keeping an eye on of late,” he said. “He’s playing in a confident team who are fifth in the Championship and just lost out in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
“He is a player who has come through the system. We know all about him and I think Steve was at the game at weekend against Sheffield United. When Steve calls somebody up, he’s confident in their ability and he trusts them.
“He’s in the group now. He didn’t do a great deal this morning because it was a quick turnaround for him, but he’s itching to get involved.
“He plays left-sided centre back, but we know he can play in the middle as well. He’s got experience, he’s playing with confidence.
“I don’t know a great deal about his personality, but in the short conversations I have had with him, he seems a confident and intelligent guy who knows a little bit about the game. So I am looking forward to finding out about it.”
Hyam qualifies to play for Scotland because he was born in Leuchars in Fife, where he spent the first 18 months of his life, when his father was in the Royal Air Force.
Asked if he could go straight into Clarke’s team in the absence of Hendry, Scott McKenna and John Souttar, Carver said: “How many times has this happened recently? I’ll go to Ryan Porteous as an example.
“Ryan was always on the fringes of things and we threw him in (in the Nations League match against Ukraine in Poland in September). All of a sudden everyone said: ‘Oh, that’s not bad!’. It was the same with Jack Hendry.
“So there is no reason why he can’t come in and fit in like the other guys have done. He seems to have the right personality and that does help.”
He added: “You look at how many times Steve has brought in players and used players. I remember when I first came here and Steve kept saying it’s all about the squad.
“In my first squad, I think we used almost every player as we had three games and he is not scared to give an opportunity.
“You have to trust people. If not, what is the use in bringing these guys in? You have to trust them and Steve does when they come in. And they trust him for that reason.
“Obviously, we have lost a few, McKenna and Hendry, but we are hoping these guys can step up. The good thing is when they come into this environment, they feel comfortable because the other players make them feel part of it straight away.
“You wouldn’t think Dominic and Angus (goalkeeper Gunn) were coming in for the first time with this group of players. You’d think they’d been in previous squads. You have to take your hat off to the guys who are there who make them feel comfortable and welcome.”
Gunn, the Norwich City goalkeeper whose father Bryan played six times for Scotland, has been called up to the national squad the first time and is hoping to replace Craig Gordon in the starting line-up in the Cyprus and Spain games.
Carver believes the 6ft 5in 27-year-old player, who faces stiff competition from Zander Clark of Hearts and Liam Kelly of Motherwell, has a great deal to offer his country.
“He’s playing in a side with two other internationals (Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean) that we know well,” he said.
“I’ve watched him and we’ve watched him quite a bit. He’s in a good side, a side that tries to play the way we try to play, which is good.
“He is playing with confidence. I saw that this morning when he came in. He’s a confident guy, he believes in his ability and we believe in him.”
Carver continued: “Listen, he is keeping out a good goalkeeper in Tim Krul. I know all about Tim Krul (Carver worked with the Duchman during his time at Newcastle United).
“So he’s keeping out a Holland international – and a friend of mine – so he must be doing something right down there. Steve and Woodsy (goalkeeping coach Chris) will have a conversation about goalkeepers.
“But Steve will make the right decision on who will be the number one choice by the end of the week.”
