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…

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.

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.

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 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?

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

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.