Steve Clarke's men will face Brazil in a bucket-list Group C finale in Miami on Wednesday night
Steve Clarke is ready to unleash Ben Gannon-Doak against Brazil here in Miami on Wednesday night as Scotland fight for their World Cup lives, writes Keith Jackson in Charlotte.
Record Sport understands the Bournemouth winner will get the nod to return to Clarkeâs starting XI after sitting on the bench for the first out of the 1-0 defeat against Morocco on Friday night in Foxborough.
We can also reveal that Brentford full-back Aaron Hickey will not be passed fit for the Group C blockbuster but should be given the all clear to run to action if Clarkeâs side does make it through to the knock-out stages.
Clarke was going through the final preparations back in Charlotte yesterday morning before the team flew south to Florida later on Monday afternoon.
And he seems certain to stick with a back four formation, with Doak given licence to take the game to the South Americanâs down Scotlandâs right flank.
That means Clarke will ditch the more defensive game plan which was rolled out against Morocco, when the manager deployed Kieran Tierney on the left flank of his midfield, ahead of fellow left back Andy Robertson.
Clarke has yet to confirm his intentions, but when asked about Gannon-Doakâs potential game-changing talent, he said: âI know, I get questions all the time about Ben Gannon-Doak.
âListen, heâs a player who can bring us something different. But my job as head coach is to make sure I use him and utilise him at the right time.
âIt doesnât always necessarily need to be from the start, but Iâm not scared to start anybody if I think he can make the team better.â
Itâs understood Clarke and his medical team had serious reservations about asking Gannon-Doak to start two games in quick succession, after playing him in the opener against Haiti.
The 20-year-old missed six months of last season after damaging a hamstring during the 4-2 win over Denmark which clinched Scotlandâs place in the States.
And Clarke didnât want to put the youngster at risk all over again by overusing him in the first three Group C games.
But Gannon-Doak has now been primed to return to action in the bucket-lister of a game which could see Clarke and his player secure a passage into the last 32 as well as a place in history.
The manager is also relaxed about the condition of talisman Scott McTominay despite the Napoli man failing to get fully up to speed in the opening two games.
Clarke said: âScott is fine. Itâs a very, very British thing.
âYou put people on the pedestal then you you chop them down. I have got no idea why.
âHe has done everything he's been asked to do in the games, he has tried as hard as he can.
âHe hasn't had the inference on the game, but he hit the post against Curacao, he had the shots against Bolivia and he looks a goal threat going forward.
âIf he continues to do that going into game three or game four, then hopefully he will end up getting the headlines that he deserves.â
Steve Clarke is ready to unleash Ben Gannon-Doak against Brazil here in Miami on Wednesday night as Scotland fight for their World Cup lives, writes Keith Jackson in Charlotte.
Record Sport understands the Bournemouth winner will get the nod to return to Clarkeâs starting XI after sitting on the bench for the first out of the 1-0 defeat against Morocco on Friday night in Foxborough.
We can also reveal that Brentford full-back Aaron Hickey will not be passed fit for the Group C blockbuster but should be given the all clear to run to action if Clarkeâs side does make it through to the knock-out stages.
Clarke was going through the final preparations back in Charlotte yesterday morning before the team flew south to Florida later on Monday afternoon.
And he seems certain to stick with a back four formation, with Doak given licence to take the game to the South Americanâs down Scotlandâs right flank.
That means Clarke will ditch the more defensive game plan which was rolled out against Morocco, when the manager deployed Kieran Tierney on the left flank of his midfield, ahead of fellow left back Andy Robertson.
Clarke has yet to confirm his intentions, but when asked about Gannon-Doakâs potential game-changing talent, he said: âI know, I get questions all the time about Ben Gannon-Doak.
âListen, heâs a player who can bring us something different. But my job as head coach is to make sure I use him and utilise him at the right time.
âIt doesnât always necessarily need to be from the start, but Iâm not scared to start anybody if I think he can make the team better.â
Itâs understood Clarke and his medical team had serious reservations about asking Gannon-Doak to start two games in quick succession, after playing him in the opener against Haiti.
The 20-year-old missed six months of last season after damaging a hamstring during the 4-2 win over Denmark which clinched Scotlandâs place in the States.
And Clarke didnât want to put the youngster at risk all over again by overusing him in the first three Group C games.
But Gannon-Doak has now been primed to return to action in the bucket-lister of a game which could see Clarke and his player secure a passage into the last 32 as well as a place in history.
The manager is also relaxed about the condition of talisman Scott McTominay despite the Napoli man failing to get fully up to speed in the opening two games.
Clarke said: âScott is fine. Itâs a very, very British thing.
âYou put people on the pedestal then you you chop them down. I have got no idea why.
âHe has done everything he's been asked to do in the games, he has tried as hard as he can.
âHe hasn't had the inference on the game, but he hit the post against Curacao, he had the shots against Bolivia and he looks a goal threat going forward.
âIf he continues to do that going into game three or game four, then hopefully he will end up getting the headlines that he deserves.â
