Arsenal news: Kieran Tierney’s Scotland unavailability ‘frustrating’ for Steve Clarke

Left-back last played for national team in October 2018 due to ongoing injury problems

Kieran Tierney is slowly returning to action after a long layoff (Reuters)

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has admitted he is frustrated that he still cannot select Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney for his national team.

The left-back has not been included in Scotland’s squad for their final two Euro 2020 qualifying against Cyprus and Kazakhstan this month, and has not played for Scotland since the 2-1 defeat in Israel in October 2018.

Tierney, 22, has experienced long-term pelvic problems that saw him undergo double hernia surgery in the summer, but has now played six games for Arsenal since making his £25 million move from Celtic in August. His comeback has been phased, however, and Clarke is still waiting to select him for the first time.

Clarke, whose only communication with Arsenal has come via written forms, said: “Kieran has got an ongoing issue that Arsenal are keen to address in the next international break, and Arsenal asked us not to select him.

“It’s a little bit frustrating. It’s obviously frustrating for Kieran as well, but we’ve got good cover in that position.”

However, the Scotland manager is learning not to get exasperated about selection issues.

“There are always issues when it comes to squad selection, people in the squad and not in the squad,” he said. “I’m learning on the job and not to read too much into squad selection, team selection, not to think about it too much until you have actually got the players in camp.

“I have to focus on the players that come. My job is to try and build a squad that comes 100 percent committed, everyone committed ready to come here and do their best for their country, and that’s what I am trying to do.”

Clarke has lost centre-backs Charlie Mulgrew and Stuart Findlay to hamstring injuries, while Sporting Kansas City attacker Johnny Russell is unavailable after picking up a minor injury just before the end of the American season.

Robert Snodgrass is another player to drop out of the previous squad after announcing his international retirement. The West Ham winger played in the 4-0 defeat by Russia last month, but left the squad before the victory over San Marino.

Defenders Scott McKenna and Liam Cooper return after injury, while Ryan Jack and Oli McBurnie are selected after withdrawing from the last squad through injury.

And Steven Naismith is back in the fold after being ruled out with knee and hamstring injuries over the last 12 months, though he has only made one substitute appearance for Hearts since recovering from the muscle problem.

PA