Scotland glove battle and striker dilemma: How absent Hearts duo will have assessed Japan friendly

You have to go back to October 2019 to note the last time there was no Hearts or Hibs representation in a Scotland squad.

On this occasion, and to the surprise of many onlookers, head coach Steve Clarke overlooked several members of Derek McInnes’ Premiership table-toppers for this month’s friendly double-header against Japan and Ivory Coast.

With Craig Gordon still on the comeback trail and talisman Lawrence Shankland having only just returned from injury, it was understandable why Clarke chose to leave both players out for these games.

In saying that, Hibs defender and national team stalwart Grant Hanley was included in the latest 26-man, despite his glaring lack of game time in recent weeks. The centre-back was an unused substitute during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to the Japanese at Hampden, but is likely to feature on Tuesday night.

So how did Clarke’s side fare against the nation ranked 19th in the world, and in particular Angus Gunn, Tommy Conway and Lyndon Dykes, whom Jambos duo Gordon and Shankland are in direct competition with for a starting spot at this summer’s World Cup finals in America?

We put Nottingham Forest back-up goalkeeper Gunn, in-form Middlesbrough attacker Conway and Charlton striker Dykes under the microscope during the first of their pre-tournament auditions.

Gordon watches on as Gunn misses out on clean sheet

The veteran Hearts No.1 was an interested spectator as he took his seat just behind the Scotland dugout for this encounter. Clarke may still have some doubts over who to start between the sticks during this summer’s major tournament.

Gunn was given the nod over Falkirk standout Scott Bain and Rangers back-up keeper Liam Kelly to start against the Japanese. That selection was surely based purely on Gunn’s previous international experience. Club form evidently wasn’t taken into account, because had that been the case then ex-Celtic shot-stopper Bain would’ve taken the gloves.

Gunn has found himself behind Stefan Ortega and Matz Sels recently in the glove battle at Nottingham Forest and has played just 45 minutes of football for the Premier League outfit this season.

Despite that, he produced a relatively strong display on Saturday that is likely to edge him closer to getting the shout when the Haiti clash comes around.

The 30-year-old was composed when dealing with crosses into his box, pulled off a couple of important saves and communicated well with those in front of him. He made two particularly smart stops in the first-half before spreading himself well to deny substitute Junya Ito when the Genk striker found himself clean through on goal midway through the second period.

Gunn will have been disappointed to be wrong-footed by the same player shortly after for the only goal of a sedate contest. On this evidence, Gordon, 43, has a strong battle on his hands to regain the No.1 spot.

Shankland offers something different to Dykes and Conway

Perhaps one of the biggest questions facing Clarke ahead of naming his final 26-man squad surrounds who will lead the line in Boston on June 14th.

With Torino frontman Che Adams kept on ice, the baton was passed over to Lyndon Dykes for this run-out, while Tommy Conway was rewarded for his impressive club form with a rare start in a new position on the left-hand side of attack.

Supporters know what they’re getting from target man Dykes - a handful in the air, provides a focal point and has the odd goal in his locker. He was left to feed off scraps here in the lone striker role and was starved of chances but his hold-up play was positive.

As for Conway, there was plenty of energy and endeavour on show but he was unable to get into dangerous areas and utilise his key strength - his pace. Shankland is a different type of hitman to both of those players, a penalty box predator.

Ipswich Town ace stakes starting claim with impressive cameo

It was the second half introduction of Ipswich Town’s George Hirst that really caught the eye. Brought on as a like-for-like replacement for Dykes’ after 63 minutes, Hirst staked a strong claim for a start in three days time on Merseyside with a lively cameo appearance.

To date, he has shown little in a Scotland jersey barring a goal against minnows Liechtenstein last June, but this was far more encouraging. Hirst brought a greater physical presence and was inches away from scoring with just under 10 minutes left after cutting inside his man before drilling a low shot that skipped just wide of the target.

While one suspects Hirst still has a long way to go to dislodge the preferred strike options in front of him, this outing gives Clarke food for thought.