STEVE Clarke has urged the players who he has omitted from his 26 man Scotland squad for the Euro 2020 finals to keep themselves fit - and stressed opportunities may arise due to injuries and positive Covid-19 tests.

Clarke yesterday called up uncapped trio Billy Gilmour of Chelsea, Nathan Patterson of Rangers and David Turnbull of Celtic for the Group D matches against the Czech Republic, England and Croatia next month.

However, there was disappointment for Andrew Considine of Aberdeen and Liam Palmer of Sheffield Wednesday as well as Leigh Griffiths of Celtic, Callum Paterson, also of Wednesday, and Lawrence Shankland of Dundee United.

But Clarke, whose team will fly to Spain for a warm weather training camp a week today before playing friendlies against the Netherlands in Portugal and Luxembourg in Luxembourg, has spoken to all of those left out.

He can still recall how his preparations for the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel at Hampden back in October were thrown into turmoil when Stuart Armstrong returned a positive coronavirus test and close contacts Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney were forced into quarantine.

He will also be without Oliver Burke and Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United, Ryan Jack of Rangers and Kenny McLean of Norwich City in the final because of injury.

Clarke informed the likes of Considine, Griffiths, Palmer, Patterson and Shankland that a chance could easily arise in the coming weeks in a series of tough phone conversations. 

“It was always going to be difficult no matter what the number was, whether it was 23 or 26,” he said. “But I’m really happy with the squad I’ve got and the balance I’ve got.

“I tend only to work one camp back. Before the March camp I had four or five difficult phone calls. This time was only two difficult phone calls, Andrew Considine and Liam Palmer.

“Both were obviously very disappointed, but we have the opportunity to make changes to the squad right up until the day before first game of the tournament.

“I’ve told them all – and this is a message to anybody who maybe thought they had a chance to be involved – to stay fit because with the Covid situation and the injury situation you never know.”

Clarke continued: "All the boys Leigh Griffiths, Lawrence Shankland, Callum Paterson,  all the boys that have played a part in getting us to the Euros, we thank them for their contribution, we don't forget their contribution.

"If you go back to the Serbia game and the penalty shoot-out, Leigh Griffiths scored one, Oli McBurnie scored and Kenny McLean scored so those three have already made a big contribution to the fact that we are even in the tournament.

“I haven’t done an official stand-by list. I have spoken to quite a few players, but I am using this announcement as a platform as well, just to say ‘keep yourself fit because you never know’. I don’t know how big you make a stand-by list because you have so many positions to cover. Everyone has to stay fit and well.”

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce claimed on Tuesday that Clarke would be taking a gamble if he selected Ryan Fraser as the winger has been sidelined with a groin injury for the past seven weeks.

But Clarke included the former Aberdeen and Bournemouth player, who scored in the Qatar 2022 qualifiers against both Israel and the Faroe Islands in March, in his squad and his confident he will be ready to take to the field against the Czech Republic at Hampden on June 14.

“Ryan is fine,” he said. “He is progressing well. He did well for me in the last camp, the March camp was good. He is excited to be part of the squad and is looking forward to the tournament. So I know what Steve is saying. But if it is a gamble and Steve thinks it’s a gamble then it’s a gamble I’m willing to take.”