Who were Scotland’s winners & losers from international break?

The main surprise in Clarke’s squad for these friendlies was the inclusion of Kilmarnock’s teenage winger Findlay Curtis, and the on-loan Rangers man came off the bench for his senior international debut against Japan.

He struggled to make an impact in his 10 minutes on the pitch, though, and was unused against Ivory Coast.

The other teenager in the squad was Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, who many fans were hoping to see in the second match, especially after Lewis Ferguson and Kenny McLean both played the full 90 against Japan.

He too was left on the bench, though, as Clarke stuck with his more experienced central options.

Perhaps the biggest conundrum the head coach has been left with after this camp is up front.

Lyndon Dykes, Tommy Conway and Che Adams were all largely ineffective in their time of the pitch, although Clarke did single out Conway for praise after Japan.

No goals in either match tells its own story, but Ipswich Town’s George Hirst was the pick of the forward players on show.

He was as industrious as the others, committed defenders and creating shooting opportunities for himself, even if his end product was lacking.

“All I can do whenever I get an opportunity is play as well as I can,” Hirst said post-match on Tuesday. “If I can keep doing that and doing it for Ipswich, it will stand me in good stead.

“I’m getting in the positions and on another day I would have come off with a couple of goals. Hopefully, they start going in.”

Former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie was impressed by what the 27-year-old had to offer.

“Hirst was really lively,” she said. “He won balls in the final third and didn’t quite get a clear opportunity. I felt it was a positive performance from him.”