Steve Clarke admits he fears his Scotland squad could be decimated by call-offs if clubs follow Celtic ’s lead by pulling their players from the Turkey friendly.
The Scotland boss’ group of 23 players was named with Tony Ralston, David Turnbull and Greg Taylor all missing as their manager Ange Postecoglou wants them for Celtic’s two-game trip to Australia next week. And Clarke admitted the situation was a head-scratcher because Scotland have been obliged to take on a fixture as part of a UEFA-Sky TV agreement to show 10 games in a year.
Next week’s clash in Turkey is not being played in an official international window and Clarke said: “It’s very strange. Don’t ask me to explain it because I’ve got no idea. It’s a game that we had to play because we had to fulfil the 10 game contract. But somehow it doesn’t become an official window. Don’t ask me how that works. We will just deal with it and move on. Obviously I’m disappointed that we are not getting the (Celtic) players. I’m probably more disappointed for the players than anything else that they don’t get the chance to come away with the national team. I know they enjoy coming away with us and some of them have missed out on a selection. But because it’s not an official window Celtic are entitled to do that. So we just have to deal with it.
“The baseline is that it’s not an official international window. I don’t know why because there’s a World Cup window going on. That sounds pretty official to me. That’s what it is. The clubs don’t have to release their players and Celtic have chosen not to release their players for this game. I have to say I’m disappointed with that decision but we have to take it on the chin and it’s a chance for someone else. It was just a blanket decision. Celtic have said that none of their players are available for any international games.
“I’m disappointed the players aren’t coming. I’m not angry, I don’t want to fight anybody and I’m not upset. I’m just disappointed. That’s all you can be and then you just have to move on.”
Asked if there are concerns that other clubs could withdraw their players, Clarke answered: “‘It’s possible. But I think we showed in September that we have got a good depth of squad. So if I need to reach down into the depths again I’m sure I can do that.”
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