I respect Stevie Clarke for what he's done for Scotland. Don't get me wrong.

But his complete neglection of Ryan Gauld is so disappointing. Particularly when he picks guys like Kenny McLean (living off one goal). And water carriers like Ryan Jack (being kind) who get picked every time regardless.

Why not give him the two last dead rubbers to see if he has in any way what it takes?

Seems so short sighted.

In fact, no, it seems stubborn.
 

Stevie Clarke has clearly done an excellent job, getting us back to two major tournament's and missing out narrowly on a third.  However some of the decisions he makes are mental.   Gauld for one - why he has never even been in a squad is unreal to me, I know there are less friendlies now but surely to fuck get him in and see what he can do.

The Shankland situation baffles me too - he was born to score goals, how thon Brown is continually picked ahead of him just makes no sense to me.  He has to be on the plane for next summer.

I'm sure Gauld would be delighted to be selected for a Scotland squad. But knowing where he lives, where he plays, the standard of living he has and the amount he's making, I don't believe he would give any of that up to return to play for a team in the UK just so that he might get noticed by Clarke (and nor should he). At the end of the day, it's a job - and one with a pretty short shelf life - and what he's doing right now will set him and his family up for the rest of their lives and beyond.

There are very few ex-United players (and maybe none!) who left us and have gone on to set themselves up for life to the extent that Gauldie has done. I doubt that Andy Gray, Ray Stewart, Luggy, Big Dunc or Richard Gough can compete on that score, though Johnny Russell won't be a million miles away (and no coincidence which league he's playing in).

Gauld might return if he was offered a big money deal by a top EPL club, but I don't see that happening tbh.