Scotland World Cup places up for grabs despite 'more depth'
Scotland's fringe players still have time to "stake their claim" for World Cup places despite there being "more depth" in the squad now, says assistant head coach Steven Naismith. Steve Clarke has a reputation for sticking with the tried and tested, but 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis - who is on loan to Kilmarnock from Rangers - is a new face in the squad chosen to face Japan on Saturday and Ivory Coast on Tuesday. Several players from in-form Hearts and Motherwell missed out on selection, but Naismith insisted there is still time to force their way in.
"The manager is constantly looking," he said, when asked what his message would be to players who have missed out this time. "The only thing players can do is consistently play well. That is the only thing in their control and that will give them their best chance to make the World Cup squad.
" As Scotland prepare for their first game since clinching qualification by beating Denmark, Naismith conceded there is a "core group of older players" who will be included if they are "fit and ready". But the former Rangers, Everton and Hearts forward added that there is "a lot of variation" outside that group. He also suggested that Scotland Under-21 cap Curtis' early season involvement in the Ibrox first-team had helped him be "comfortable in the environment" with the senior squad.
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Scotland set to look pretty in 'pink' at World Cup "The best thing for me is there's the younger guys that are coming in," Naismith added. "We've got a bit more depth than we have done in previous squads. " Naismith pointed to the example of Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway, who has forced himself back into the group.