Scotland squad shock as Findlay Curtis earns first international call-up
Teenage Kilmarnock winger findlay curtis has been named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for two World Cup warm-up friendlies on Saturday 28 March (ET) at Hampden and Tuesday 31 March (ET) at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. The 19-year-old, on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers after featuring 26 times at Ibrox in the first half of the campaign, is an uncapped inclusion intended to add attacking width. Clarke has assembled a 26-man group as he finalises preparations ahead of the World Cup finals in June.
Squad selection and fixtures
Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad will meet Japan at Hampden on Saturday 28 March (ET) before travelling to face Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday 31 March (ET). The selection mixes established internationals with late additions and recalled players: goalkeepers Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest) and Liam Kelly (Rangers) make up the trio; defenders include Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) and Nathan Patterson (Everton); midfielders feature Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Scott McTominay (Napoli) and John McGinn (Aston Villa); forwards named include Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich) and Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).
Findlay Curtis: From Rangers loan to senior squad
Findlay Curtis arrives in the senior group after joining Kilmarnock on loan from Rangers in January, having already made 26 appearances for Rangers earlier in the season. At 19, he is an uncapped winger thrust into international contention amid a noted shortage of depth on the flanks and with Bournemouth’s Ben Gannon-Doak still managing a recovery from injury. The call-up represents Curtis’s first opportunity to stake a claim for a place on the plane to the World Cup finals in June, and gives Clarke fresh options on the wings for the immediate friendlies and beyond.
Injuries, recalls and what comes next
The squad shows a mixture of returns and absences: Wrexham centre-back Dominic Hyam and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway have been re-called, Everton right-back Nathan Patterson is included despite limited recent involvement, and Napoli’s Billy Gilmour returns after missing the previous camp through injury. Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland and Aaron Hickey are among those who miss out as they continue recovery. Scotland will stage a farewell friendly against Curacao in Glasgow on 30 May (ET) before departing for final preparations overseas, with the World Cup opening group fixtures set to begin in June (ET).
All eyes will be on the Hampden match on 28 March (ET) for findlay curtis’s senior debut opportunity and on the selection decisions that follow as Clarke narrows his options ahead of the tournament.
