Ben Doak 'set' for Euro 2024 call and Celtic star James Forrest could join him after two point Scotland defence case
Ben Doak is reportedly set to get the call from Steve Clarke to come to his rescue at Euro 2024.
And he could be joined by James Forrest as the case mounts for the experience Celtic winger to be called upon. Clarke is having to get creative amid a number of injury concerns but is boosted by the news that he will be allowed to pick 26 players for the finals rather than the usual 23 after a number of bosses appealed to UEFA for expanded squads.
At Euro 2020, Clarke used that privilege to bring in Billy Gilmour and Nathan Patterson from the U21s, and that proved a masterstroke with both since becoming mainstays of his squad. According to the Scottish Sun, Liverpool winger Doak is set to be the beneficiary this time around, with Clarke set to call upon him if he is fit in time. Doak has been out since December with a knee problem but is on the verge of full fitness and it's claimed he is in line for a call provided he is fit in time.
It will be a dream fulfilled for Doak who comes in as a welcome attacking boost. Lewis Ferguson is set to miss the finals with injury with Stuart Armstrong also a serious doubt, and that's led to calls for Clarke to mix things up with his creative options - particularly out wide where there are no real wide-men within the scope of his usual picks.
Doak could be one route to alleviating that and one extreme to another, the experienced James Forrest could also be in line for some shock involvement. It seemed not too long ago that his Celtic career was in doubt, let alone his international one having not earned a cap since Euro 2020. But he's recently returned to the fold under Brendan Rodgers, scoring a double against Dundee and earning back-to-back league games for the first time since January 2022.
There have been shouts from all angles for his inclusion in Germany, with Pat Bonner citing his improved sharpness and fitness. He said: “Forrest looks fit, I know Rodgers took him off on Saturday and brought him off at Dundee also last week, but he does look sharp. Brendan might be saving him for the Euros! If he got there, we would all be absolutely delighted for him, but he’s a great lad, and he’s been around this game for so long, and he deserves to go to a championship.”
And Stephen Craigan reckons his versatility, providing a genuine wide option as well as his ability to fill in as an attacking wing-back, as a potential asset. He told the BBC: “He’s such a bright spark. He’s got such a connection with the club and the fans. He knows what it means to play in big games, to score and big games and to be the key player not only just for Celtic but I tipped him out to go to the Euros this summer. I think he’s a player who Scotland need because he can give them a little options to change the shape. I mean wingback is not a special position for a Scotland player but he can play there if need be
“If Scotland needs a goal and they need wingers which they don’t tend to have in their squad James Forrest is right up that street. He knows international football so I think any manager would love a James Forrest in their team.”