Steve Clarke: Scotland head coach won’t ‘experiment’ in friendlies

“With any team, there has to be a cycle and a turnover of players eventually. You’re bringing these young players in to feel the level of the group, to understand where they need to get to, to be selected regularly. That’s important.

“The young ones are in a good place. There’s one or two of them coming into this camp better than the last time they came.”

Clarke has also been impressed by the commitment shown by his more established players at turning up for these friendlies at the end of gruelling campaigns.

Among those is captain Andy Robertson, who has also been impressed by the new faces among the squad, both in terms of their abilities on the training pitch but also in their attitudes and willingness to learn.

“Me, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, we’re not going to be around forever. Then it’s up to the young lads,” the Liverpool full-back said.

“It will soon be their squad, they will then have to step up and set standards. So them understanding how difficult international football is, is crucial.

“I know from my experience, the younger that I experienced that, the better it was and then I just kind of grew into it. And maybe in 10 years time, I can be watching them at a World Cup.”