Former Hibs ace reveals Scotland World Cup stance - Bowie frozen out by Clarke but chasing Serie A dream
Time running out for ex-Fulham striker who netted record transfer fee in Easter Road January exit
Former Hibs striker Kieron Bowie insists he’s still clinging to his dream of starring for Scotland at this summer’s World Cup – despite being dropped from Steve Clarke’s squad for the most recent international friendlies. And the £7 million man, who became the Easter Road club’s record sale when he moved to Hellas Verona in January, has underlined his determination to help the Serie A strugglers hold onto their place in Italy’s top flight.
Bowie bagged just a second goal for his new club in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Torino, his equaliser late in the first half counting for nothing as Verona stayed rooted in the relegation zone. They’re nine points, plus goal difference, away from a great escape.
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The former Raith Rovers and Fulham forward, who scored 15 goals despite suffering a serious hamstring injury early in his 18 months as a Hibs player, broke into the Scotland squad as a result of his performances at Easter Road. He won both of his caps while a Hibs player.
But he wasn’t included in Clarke’s squad for the all-important World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark back in November, as Scotland ended their 28-year wait for a return to the biggest event in international football. And he as absent again when Clarke named five strikers in the group for last month’s friendly defeats to Japan and Ivory Coast, with Tommy Conway, George Hirst, Findlay Curtis, Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams all listed as forwards.
Scotland have just two more warm-up games on the fixture list before they kick off their tournament in earnest, with Curacao visiting Hampden for a big Tartan Army send-off on May 30, and Clarke’s men taking on Bolivia in New Jersey on June 6 – just over a week out from their own footballing D-Day against Haiti in Boston.
Bowie hasn’t given up hope of forcing his way back into the national team manager’s thinking, declaring: “Obviously my first priority is helping my club. But if by doing well and scoring goals helps me get back in the Scotland squad then that’s great.
“Every player dreams of playing at a World Cup. And I’m no different.”
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Despite talk of Clarke being ‘forced’ to name a 55-man preliminary squad by FIFA, the reality will see the SFA contact around 35 players to check on fitness and availability early next month. That group will then be cut to 26 for the tournament itself.
Bowie’s chances of competing for game time against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil would appear slim, with the call-up of Rangers loanee Curtis – currently plying his trade for a Kilmarnock side in the relegation play-off spot – and Clarke’s words of public praise for Middlesbrough attacker Conway not boding well.
But he’s determined to make himself impossible to ignore. And knows that helping Hellas Verona stay up would go a long way to making his case.
“I’m really enjoying the challenge over in Italy and feel I’m adjusted really well since the making the move,” he said. “It’s great to get on the score sheet at the weekend, although in the end we were unable to take anything from the game.
“Results at this stage are the most important thing. We’ll keep fighting to the end, some big games coming up, and see where we end up.”