Steve Clarke reacts to unexpected Celtic decision
Steve Clarke is disappointed that he won’t have any Celtic players in his Scotland squad to face Turkey next Wednesday.
International friendlies are taking place worldwide next week but as it hasn’t been declared an international break by FIFA clubs aren’t obliged to release players.
The morning after the Turkey friendly Celtic face Sydney FC in a friendly followed three days later by a match against Everton.
David Turnbull, Greg Taylor and Tony Ralston would almost certainly have been named in the Scotland squad but will be thousands of miles away from the action in Turkey.
The Daily Record reports Clarke saying:
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.
Were Celtic right to withhold players from the Scotland squad
No, always a great honour to represent the SFA
Yes, Celtic comes first every time. Great decision, at last
Scotland don’t play any competitive matches until March when they start their European Championship campaign.
The benefits of the game in Turkey is hard to assess, over the weekend there is likely to be a number of call offs from the 23 man squad. During the last international break Clarke ended up calling in Barrie McKay and Steven Kingsley to his depleted squad.
CLICK HERE for full Scotland squad.