Scotland head coach Steve Clarke faces a race against time ahead of Tuesday's World Cup squad announcement, with the fitness of striker Tommy Conway hanging in the balance. The Middlesbrough forward left the pitch in tears during Tuesday's 2-1 Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton, limping off in the 73rd minute. His club has yet to release details on the 23-year-old's injury, leaving Clarke to weigh his options before the deadline.
The timing couldn't be tighter. Clarke must submit his final 26-man squad for this summer's World Cup finals by Tuesday, and Conway's availability could be a deciding factor. The young striker had been making a strong case for inclusion, but this injury setback throws his participation into doubt.
Meanwhile, other contenders are making their own cases. Ross Stewart, who equalized for Southampton just before halftime in that same play-off match, remains a possibility—though his involvement in the Wembley final on May 23 is uncertain. Southampton faces an English Football League charge for allegedly spying on opponents during training, which could impact Stewart's availability for Scotland selection.
Oli McBurnie, another striker in the mix, has taken a proactive approach. The Hull City forward recently phoned Clarke directly to plead for a first recall since earning his 16th cap in 2021. McBurnie didn't add to his 18 goals this season in Hull's 2-0 aggregate play-off win over Millwall, but his consistent form has kept him in contention.
With Stewart and McBurnie both 29, and Conway at 23, Clarke has a blend of experience and youth to consider. The extended provisional squad of up to 55 players—submitted to FIFA but not made public—likely includes uncapped talents like Stephen Welsh, the 26-year-old Celtic loanee impressing at Motherwell, as well as current under-21 standouts.
Clarke has already hinted that his core group is nearly set, saying last month he's "more or less set in my mind" about the 26 players he intends to take. But he left the door open, noting that two spots might still be up for grabs. Tuesday's announcement will reveal whether Conway's injury has opened a window for one of the chasing pack—or if Scotland's boss has already made up his mind.