Celtic stars David Turnbull and Leigh Griffiths could be in line for a major boost this summer after UEFA’s National Teams Committee recommended the expansion of squad size from 23 to 26 due to pressures on players caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both Celtic players were probably going to miss the cut for the initial 23 squad but with Scotland manager Steve Clarke now able to add 3 additional players to his squad he must surely be considering the two Celtic men.
Clarke is currently short of goalscorers and Griffiths has a well earned reputation for scoring against England. Had he been fully fit Griffiths would surely have been the first pick Scotland number 9 but he has failed to make a sufficient impact at club level this season to merit inclusion in Clarke’s recent squads.
However Griffiths did come off the bench to grab a dramatic late equaliser for Celtic at Pittodrie last week and is in line to play this Sunday at the Glasgow Derby at Ibrox. Surely John Kennedy will play with two strikers, pairing Griffiths with Odsonne Edouard, as the French talisman will seek to bring his final game for Celtic against theRangers to a winning conclusion.
David Turnbull has probably been the best player at Celtic this season and the midfielder must be in Steve Clarke’s thoughts. Indeed Turnbull is making that number 10 role at Celtic his own, forcing Scotland regular Ryan Christie out wide or to sit on the bench, and Turnbull’s goal threat and assists rate must surely give Clarke food for thought now that he has 3 additional places to fill.
And with theRangers midfielder Ryan Jack now out of the Scotland reckoning for the Euros due to injury, then there is perhaps an opening for David Turnbull to join Christie, Callum McGregor and perhaps Leigh Griffiths in the squad for the first major tournament finals since France 1998.
Exclusive: Gareth Southgate will be able to pick a 26-man England squad at Euro 2020 instead of 23 after Uefa’s national teams committee recommended the expansion
https://t.co/rFHTxZ4Zp2— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) April 27, 2021
UEFA’s national teams committee has recommended that squad sizes at #Euro2020 are increased from 23 to 26 players.
More on @SkySportsNews.
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) April 27, 2021
