Alan Hutton: Time is Right for Scotland Overhaul

IT’S TIME FOR NEW BLOOD IN THE SCOTLAND SQUAD

I’m ready to see some younger players come through into the Scotland squad. It’s about time the likes of Tommy Conway were introduced properly, especially after the disappointment of the Euros.

Ben Doak was supposed to be going to the Euros but he missed out due to injury. He’s got bags of potential and should definitely link up with the senior squad.

I accept that Steve Clarke will still pick older heads like Andy Robertson in the squad and rightly so. I don’t think he’ll be ready to give up on international football, he’s still got plenty to give this team as skipper.

But it’s coming to a stage where this group has been together for several years now. They probably wish they’d achieved more as a collective.

Age-wise the squad’s not too bad, so I don’t think we need wholesale changes, but small tweaks would be welcome just to freshen things up.

CLARKE HAS THE NATIONS LEAGUE TO FIGHT FOR HIS JOB

As for the Scotland hot seat, I think Clarke’s done an outstanding job up until this point. He’s changed the whole culture of the squad, finding a system that suits them and genuinely works.

The last qualifying campaign was brilliant, to be quite honest. It just seems to be the final hurdle that’s our Achilles heel.

The lads seem to panic a little bit when they get to the actual tournament.

When I was watching us at the Euros, it wasn’t the team I recognised from the qualifying campaign. They need to find a way to shake off those tournament nerves.

I think Steve will be given the Nations League and a decision about his future will be made from there.

The Nations League won’t be a walk in the park by any means – they’re in the top group. But, at this moment in time, I believe he’s still the man for the job. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s still in charge despite the disappointment of the Euros.

A MOVE FOR MCTOMINAY CAN ELEVATE HIS GAME

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay needs to play regular football and he’s been linked with moves away from Old Trafford this summer.

I like McTominay a lot. He scored really important goals for Manchester United last season. Goals that some of his team-mates wouldn’t have scored.

When he was playing for Scotland I thought he was a different class. He was our – unlikely! – top goalscorer and a huge player for us.

In fact, he was one of the biggest reasons why we even reached the Euros in the first place, so he deserves to play club football consistently.

Scott’s biggest problem at United is he’s better higher up the pitch.

When he plays higher up off the bench for United and he’s allowed to make late runs into the box, that’s where he thrives.

I love his engine. He can get up and down the pitch for Manchester United but, in reality, he’s not going to play there. He’s fighting a losing battle.

He needs to play regularly and, if I was in his situation, that’s what I’d want to be doing.

Of course, United is a huge club, but can he go and play elsewhere and elevate his game even further? I think he can.

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