Stuart Armstrong Returns To Scotland Squad For Nations League Matches As Morgan And Adams Withdraw

Add as a preferred source on Google

Stuart Armstrong, a midfielder for Vancouver Whitecaps, has been recalled to the Scotland squad by Steve Clarke. This comes ahead of their Nations League matches against Croatia and Poland. Armstrong's return marks his first national team appearance since Euro 2024, where he played briefly in a loss to Hungary.

The recall of Armstrong follows the withdrawal of Lewis Morgan from New York Red Bulls and Che Adams from Torino. Despite these changes, Clarke expressed satisfaction with his attacking options. Morgan has had an impressive MLS season with 13 goals and seven assists, creating 49 chances, second only to John Tolkin at the Red Bulls.

Adams was absent from Torino's recent match against Juventus due to a thigh injury. After further evaluation by the Serie A club, he was deemed unfit for international duty. This situation prompted Clarke to bring Armstrong back into the fold for the upcoming fixtures.

Currently, Scotland is at the bottom of Group A1 in the Nations League with just one point from four matches. Their last point came against Portugal. The team is on its longest winless streak at home (six games) and in competitive matches (ten games). If they lose on Friday, they could match their longest overall winless run set in 1998.

Croatia will visit Hampden Park for the first time since October 2013 when they lost 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier. Historically, Croatia has never won an away game in Scotland, recording two draws and one loss.

The upcoming matches are crucial for Scotland as they aim to avoid relegation from League A. With Armstrong back in the squad, Clarke hopes to strengthen his team's performance and secure vital points against their opponents.