GETTING both Stuart Armstrong and Scott McTominay back into the Scotland squad for the crucial Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Israel and the Faroe Islands next month has pleased Steve Clarke greatly.

But the prospect of the Tartan Army, the country’s 12th man, returning en masse to Hampden has lifted the spirits of the national team manager more.

Clarke, whose men are in second spot in Group F with four matches remaining and firmly on course to finish runners-up and progress to the play-offs, has never had a sell-out crowd roaring on his side in a home match during his two-and-a-half year tenure.

He is hopeful the presence of 52,000 of his compatriots in Mount Florida when the square up to their nearest challengers and old sparring partners Israel once again on Saturday, October 9, will give them a vital edge and help them to record an important victory.   

“We’re expected a really tough game irrespective of his many people are inside the stadium,” he said. “But I’d like to think the atmosphere and the fact it is a full house will help us. 

“It will be my first experience of that here at Hampden and I’m looking forward to it. The players are too. Hopefully it just gives them that little bit extra onto their game that makes a difference on the night. 

“Hampden can be a great stadium for atmosphere on nights like these. But then it’s also down to us to give the fans something. The pre-match and build-up to the game is going to be electric. It’s up to us to keep that atmosphere going during the game.” 

Clarke, who led Scotland to the Euro 2020 finals this summer, believes the fact that every seat inside Hampden will be filled when Israel visit is a direct result of both the performances his charges have produced and the desire they have shown to reach Qatar 2022. 

“I said after the Austria game (Scotland won 1-0 in Vienna earlier this month) that I love my players and I do love my players,” he said. “I love the fact they give everything for their country. And they want to be successful. 

“They want to qualify for another tournament and I think the supporters are buying into that, I really do. I think the fan base are buying into that and thinking ‘this is a group of players we can identify with’. So hopefully they support us and cheer us onto another tournament.  

“But as things stand they see that hunger and desire in the players to do well for the country. That’s how they approach every game and I see them flat out. 

“I work with them closely so I know. I get that. But the fans see it now. They see the team tries to play on the front foot and we try and be positive and play when we can play. If we have to fight we can go and fight as well. The Scottish psyche buys into that.” 

Ian Maxwell, the Scottish FA chief executive, stated earlier this month that Hampden could be revamped and both ends brought closer to the pitch as part of a joint Home Nations’ bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

Clarke has seen first hand how the spectator experience has been improved by investment at other stadiums and has welcomed the plan to improve and modernise a venue which is unpopular with many supporters.
“If they are going to redevelop it then the Luzhniki in Moscow could be an example,” he said. “We were there with Chelsea for the Champions League final and it used to be a big bowl. But they brought the stands in behind both goals for the World Cup. There’s the blueprint if they want to do it.”