Scotland's Rising Star Elliot Anderson: A Key Asset in Euro 2024 Qualifiers

Steve Clarke has not requested any assurances from Elliot Anderson regarding the Scottish future of the midfield player. Hailing from Whitley Bay but representing Newcastle United, the player holds Scottish ancestry and has previously featured in national competitions for Scotland and England during his youth career.

After engaging in positive discussions with Clarke, the 20-year-old was selected by the Scotland boss for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus in Larnaca on Friday and the subsequent challenge match against England at Hampden Park next week. Nevertheless, Anderson's inclusion in the squad was cut short when he had to officially withdraw on Wednesday evening due to sustaining an injury during training.

At the pre-match media conference in Cyprus, when asked whether he had sought any assurances from Anderson, the Scotland boss replied, "No, he simply returned home." Earlier, when questioned about his concerns about international allegiances, the Scotland boss responded, "It is beyond my control. There is little I can do to influence it."

It is undoubtedly disappointing not to have had the opportunity to work with Elliot. This is the very reason we included him in the squad. Losing both Elliot and Liam on the same day is disheartening, but it is a common occurrence in international football, and we must handle it.

Naturally, we had to find a replacement for Liam as we couldn't proceed with only one goalkeeper. We decided to bring in young Robby, who has been part of the squad before and therefore understands our dynamics. In the case of Elliot, there was no need for a replacement, as we have an ample number of midfielders.

Clarke: 'We aren't the finished article'

A victory against Cyprus, who were convincingly defeated 3-0 at Hampden Park, could potentially secure Scotland's qualification for the Euros for the second consecutive time next Tuesday, depending on the outcome of other matches.

In spite of the anticipated support from approximately 6,000 fans in a stadium with a capacity of 8,058, Clarke downplayed the thrilling possibility of traveling to Germany next summer. He expressed, "I'm not one to get easily excited, I'm solely focused on the upcoming game. The players are in a positive position, both within the team and in the group standings."

We currently have the maximum points at the halfway mark, which is a significant achievement. While we have performed well, there are certain aspects of the game that require improvement.

It is crucial to acknowledge that we are not yet a perfect team and we are determined to continuously enhance our performance. The players have expressed their commitment to this goal. Our objective is to continually progress and evolve, while also maintaining a respectful attitude towards our opponents.

The task at hand won't be easy. They are an incredibly proud team, driven by their strong desire to represent their country, Cyprus. Historically, they have always proven to be formidable opponents for us. Although two goals were scored towards the end of the match at Hampden, it may have slightly embellished the final score, indicating that we are anticipating a challenging game against them.

There is currently a lot of emphasis on the soaring temperatures in Cyprus, but Clarke maintains a calm and composed demeanor regarding the fact that the game will commence at 9.45pm local time.

Ketsbaia: Scotland have already qualified

Ketsbaia's side have yet to pick up a point in three games and lost 3-0 at Hampden Park in March.

The former Newcastle, Wolves and Dundee forward said: "I believe they have already qualified.

I am unsure of their chances of winning the group, but they are definitely positioned to finish either first or second. Having observed all four of their games, it is evident that they have outperformed all of their opponents. With a total of 12 points from these games, it is clear that they are a formidable team, especially considering the challenges posed by their tough group.

This outcome does not come as a surprise to me. The caliber of their players, many of whom hail from the Premier League, coupled with the expertise of their highly experienced coach, is a testament to the exceptional work they have done so far.

"They are leading the section, which comes as no surprise, considering their accomplishments.

"The temperature has cooled down compared to a few weeks ago, but we remain hopeful that the conditions will have a stronger impact on the Scots than on us.

We have a tough match ahead as the Scots have proven themselves to be the top team so far. We have made extensive preparations and are determined to deliver an excellent game in front of a packed stadium.

Although we haven't earned any points yet, we are optimistic about beginning our winning streak now. In our previous games, we may have adopted a more defensive strategy due to strong opponents. However, when playing at home against Georgia, we opted for a more attacking approach and felt we deserved better results. Perhaps this match will be the turning point for us.

State of play - Group A

With an unblemished record thus far, they now set their sights on a crucial away match against Cyprus, who currently languish at the bottom of Group A. Scotland aims to solidify their position at the top of the group as they look to dominate the competition.