STEVE Clarke has revealed why Simon Murray was left out of the Scotland squad for the friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein next month despite scoring 22 goals in all competitions for Dundee this season.
Murray was on target 16 times in the William Hill Premiership this season – the same number of times that Daizen Maeda of Celtic netted and just two fewer than leading league marksman Cyriel Dessers of Rangers - and helped to keep the Dens Park club in the top flight.
But the uncapped 33-year-old was yesterday omitted from the 25-man national squad for the games at Hampden on Friday, June 6, and Rheinpark Stadium in Vaduz on Monday, June 9.
Read more:
- Alistair Johnston on his wedding day nerves and a Celtic marriage made in heaven
- Alistair Johnston issues 'sluggish' Celtic with stark Scottish Cup final warning
- St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara makes European pledge after final day heartache
Clarke called up five forwards for the double header – Che Adams of Torino, Kieron Bowie of Hibernian, Tommy Conway of Middlesbrough, George Hirst of Ipswich Town and James Wilson of Hearts.
He left out Kevin Nisbet of Aberdeen and Lawrence Shankland of Hearts because he is keen to take a look at what younger strikers like Bowie and Wilson can offer him in future.
But the former Kilmarnock manager stressed that he is aware of how Murray has performed during the 2024/25 campaign and refused to rule out drafting him into his squad in future.
“But I have never been shy about bring older players, for example Andy Considine, in. If the moment was there and the timing was right and the situation was right then Simon could have made the squad, but I wanted to look at the younger players.
“Kieron is one I have always had my eye on, ever since the under-21s. Any time I have watched the under-21s he stood out. He is big, physical, strong, has good attributes to his game.
Read more:
- Scotland's ultras aren't working class heroes - too many are 'still f****** peasants'
- Why Lewis Ferguson's historic Coppa Italia success could extend his stay at Bologna
- 'Depressed' coach hoping Lewis Ferguson convinces managers to give Scots kids games
“I know what Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet can bring to the squad, can give to the team. I just want to have a look at something a little bit different. These games are a chance for us to have a look at one or two.
"I speak to Scot [Gemmill] almost every month. We have a catch-up. He runs through who he's got in the 21s squad, who he sees as the new ones emerging. Last season, Ben Doak was the one that was catching the headlines. "But Scot was always quite strong on the good job Kieron was doing for the team. And like I said, any time I watched the under-21s, Kieron was the one that caught my eye. And not always as a striker, sometimes playing off the left. He was a big physical left winger."
