Could Hibs defender Paul Hanlon start tonight for Scotland? Steve Clarke discusses

Scotland manager Steve Clarke believes Paul Hanlon can make the same impact at international level as Andrew Considine.

Paul Hanlon during a Scotland training session at the Oriam before tonight's clash with Czech Republic (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

The 30-year-old Hibs centre-half was called up to the Scotland squad on Monday after Leeds United’s Liam Cooper returned to his club with an injury and Clarke stressed he would have no worries putting the uncapped Hanlon into the side against Czech Republic tonight.

Considine was called up last week and came straight into the side to make his international debut at 33 years old in the 1-0 win over Slovakia on Sunday . “He did very well and I need to mention Paul Hanlon here as well,” said Clarke. “He’s come into the squad as well and he’s almost an exact copy of Andy Considine. You change the club but you don’t change the seven out of ten performance. You don’t change the consistency Paul has shown over the years.

“He’s another one I saw up close and personal quite often when I was manager at Kilmarnock so I would have no problem playing Andy or Paul in the group as I proved the other night. If I had to do the same with Paul I wouldn’t have any issues.”

The Scotland manager stressed that call-ups for those such as Hanlon and Considine shows other uncapped players of similar age what is possible. “I can only pick a certain number in the final squad but the list I’m picking from - and the names that are on it - is much, much bigger than you probably think,” he said.

Clarke, meanwhile, insists club managers should have full confidence that Scotland are taking no coronavirus risks with their players.

Celtic have expressed frustration after Israel full-back Hatem Abd Elhamed became the fourth member of Neil Lennon’s squad forced to self-isolate this week ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm clash. Nir Bitton is also out, while Ryan Christie was in close contact with Stuart Armstrong, who tested positive while with Scotland last week. Striker Odsonne Edouard also tested positive with France U21s.But Clarke said: “I think the protocols that we’ve put in place have been proven. We had the Covid incident when we first got to the camp and since then all have tested negative.”