Two Celts snubbed – No room for Forrest or McCowan in Scotland squad

Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor have been named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Poland but there is no room for James Forrest or Luke McCowan…

Anthony Ralston in action against Portugal
Scotland v Portugal – Anthony Ralston and Diogo Jota battle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League Group A1 match at Hampden on Tuesday October 15, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

Scotland bottom of table 

Despite Scotland’s admirable 0-0 draw with Portugal at Hampden Park in their most recent outing last month, it remains one win in 16 for the ex-Kilmarnock manager whose contract with the national team is up in 2026.

Scotland currently sit bottom of their Nations League A group on one point from four matches heading into two crucial encounters. A defeat versus Croatia at the national stadium a week on Friday would almost guarantee relegation to Nations League B.

Anthony Ralston in action against Croatia
Anthony Ralston of Scotland crossed the ball under pressure from Luka Modric of Croatia during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Croatia and Scotland at Stadion Maksimir on October 12, 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Tony Ralston –  A reliable starter for Scotland

Celtic’s Tony Ralston has become a reliable starter for Steve Clarke who has had to rely on the Hoops second choice right-back following the absence of both Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson through injury. Ralston has started the last nine games for his country and will be most likely called upon again this month.

Ralston, Forrest, McGregor and Taylor
Celtic v theRangers – Scottish Cup – Final – Hampden. Anthony Ralston, James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor celebrate with the trophy on Saturday May 25, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Greg Taylor returns after injury 

Meanwhile, Greg Taylor who pulled out the most recent Scotland camp due to injury returns to the squad. Since skipper Andy Robertson has been a constant mainstay under Clarke’s stewardship, the chances of Taylor featuring for Scotland are extremely slim.

James Forrest
James Forrest at Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

James Forrest has been treaded dreadfully 

Celtic legend James Forrest has been omitted from the squad. The 33 year-old winger has featured 15 times for the Scottish champions this campaign but has not done enough to convince Clarke that he is worthy of remaining amongst the side. Clarke yesterday talked about Jamesy pulling out of his squad last time around with a “slight injury” and saying that Ben Doak came in and did well so he is going with him.

Time to follow Callum McGregor’s lead, Jamesy

Surely it’s time for Jamesy, who was completely messed about by Clarke in the summer at Euro 2024, to call time on his Scotland career?

Luke McCowan celebrates his goal
Luke McCowan celebrates his goal. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Barron ahead of McCowan – Really?

Also absent is midfield playmaker Luke McCowan who will have to wait yet again to be called up. Pound for pound, McCowan has arguably been Celtic’s most impressive signing of the summer. With five goal involvements and now playing regularly for Brendan Rodgers, for Clarke to overlook someone of McCowan’s technical skill and quality is bewildering.

Take Conor Barron for example. What is it that Clarke sees in Barron to select him ahead of McCowan? It is a head-scratcher from the current Scotland boss and is yet more evidence of why the SFA should look elsewhere for a manager. Unfortunately, it’s like preaching to the converted, as Scotland’s hierarchy still see him as a messiah.

Five former Celts in the squad

Five other former Celts have also been included in the squad. Those are; Craig Gordon, Jack Hendry, Ryan Christie, the aforementioned Ben Doak and Lewis Morgan. None of them would get anywhere near the current Celtic team.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) by Matt Corr published today

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books, November 2024. Image The Celtic Star

The very best of luck to Matt Corr whose double volume history of Celtic in the 1930s is published today on Celtic Star Books.

Telling the Celtic story is always worthwhile and Matt has become an esteemed Celtic story-teller in recent years since his first book Invincible which was published in 2020 before co-writing the best seller Walfrid and The Bould Bhoys with Liam Kelly and the late David Potter.

Since then he’s written the official Harry Hood biography (Harry Hood, Twice as Good) and Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic.

Now though Matt takes his Celtic work to another level with Celtic in the Thirties, Volume One & Two, which has taken three years to research and write and features every player who played for Celtic in that incredibly dramatic decade for the club and indeed the world.

You can order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books and these will be posted alongside all the pre-ordered copies tomorrow. Please note that postage is only charged on the first book.

Click to order from Celtic Star Books

Order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. OUT NOW!

Click to order from Celtic Star Books

About Author

A current third year student studying History and Journalism, Media and Communications at the University of Strathclyde and now writing regularly about the Hoops for The Celtic Star.

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