Sir Kenny Dalglish: Will Steve Clarke turn to big Marsh in his time of need?

Steve Clarke will pick his first Scotland squad of the year on Tuesday. With Craig Gordon out injured, much of the focus will be on who is going to play between the sticks against Cyprus and Spain.

Zander Clark at Hearts, Rangers’ Jon McLaughlin and Liam Kelly of Motherwell will all be on the radar. Angus Gunn at Norwich City has also been mentioned as a possibility.

They are all very capable goalkeepers, but lack experience at international level.

So I wonder if Steve will ask David Marshall to come out of retirement for the Hampden double-header at the end of the month?

David is still performing very well for Hibs, and has loads of big games under his belt for club and country.

He was also a national hero a couple of years ago when he helped us defeat Serbia in the penalty-shoot out to qualify for Euro 2020.

I’m never ever sure about players retiring themselves from playing for their country, but I’m sure David had his reasons.

I’ve no idea if a conversation between him and Steve has taken place. But I’m sure if the manager wanted to go down that road, and ask David, then he would get a positive response.

David has had loads of special moments playing for his country, and he can help us get some more.

But if he doesn’t want to, then I would respect his reasons.

It may also be that Steve decides it’s time for someone new and doesn’t actually approach David. All will be revealed in the next 48 hours or so.

There is also some debate over what Steve will do at the other end of the park.

QPR’s Lyndon Dykes has had an illness in recent weeks, and is unlikely to be available. That leaves a spot open for someone else.

We know that Che Adams is a certain selection, and rightly so. He’ll be ready to go and lead the line really well. He is a very good striker, for sure.

But who else will be there?

Lawrence Shankland has been doing very well for Hearts, and has played and scored for his country in the past. He has to be under consideration.

Likewise, across the capital, Kevin Nisbet is back playing at Easter Road, and always poses a threat in and around the penalty box.

Knowing Steve, he will leave no stone unturned as he mulls over his squad. He is always very thorough.

With this being the opening fixtures of the Euro 2024 qualification for Germany, it’s important to get off to a good start.

Our focus has to be on Cyprus. That is the first game, and our best chance of getting three points.

We do not want to blow that opportunity.

Sure, Spain is the glamour game, but we can’t let our minds wander to that fixture too soon.

They are a highly-talented team, and anything we can get out of that game will be a huge bonus. That’s not me being defeatist, just realistic.

However, as I’ve always said, with the Tartan Army behind the players, anything is possible.

Both fixtures are a sell-out, and the atmosphere will be phenomenal.

The prize is a place in the Finals in Germany and we want to be there. And we have the fall-back of the Nations League play-off place, if required.

Scotland’s next set of fixtures will be in June – away to Norway then at home to Georgia.

I have to say I feel for the players having to play so deep into the summer. They should be on a beach by that stage, switched off and enjoying themselves.

My feeling is that there are far too many fixtures nowadays, and players are in serious danger of suffering burn-out.

It’s not just about playing games. There’s also the constant travelling around Europe if guys are involved in European fixtures for their clubs.

Football needs to be very, very careful about how it treats the players, and the governing bodies need to really look closely at this situation.