Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is facing a race against time as he prepares to announce his World Cup squad this Tuesday—and all eyes are on Tommy Conway's fitness.
The Middlesbrough striker left the pitch in tears on Tuesday evening after being forced off injured in the 73rd minute of his side's dramatic 2-1 promotion play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton. The 23-year-old's Championship club has yet to release details on the severity of the injury, leaving Clarke and Scotland fans anxiously awaiting news before the squad deadline.
While Conway's availability hangs in the balance, two other striking contenders—Ross Stewart and Oli McBurnie—will miss their final chance to impress the gaffer before the squad is named. Stewart, who equalized for Southampton just before half-time in that same play-off tie, and McBurnie, who helped Hull City secure a 2-0 aggregate win over Millwall, won't get another audition before Clarke's announcement.
Stewart's participation in the Championship play-off final on May 23 is also uncertain, with the English Football League charging Southampton with spying on opponents during training—a charge the club has not denied. The former Ross County and Sunderland striker, who earned his last Scotland cap in 2022, has been in fine form when fit, netting 11 goals in 33 appearances this season, including five in his last 10 outings.
McBurnie, meanwhile, has taken matters into his own hands. The 29-year-old forward recently phoned Clarke directly to plead for a first recall since earning his 16th cap in 2021. While he didn't add to his 18 goals this season, the former Sheffield United and Las Palmas striker played a key role in Hull's playoff push.
With all 48 national associations required to submit a provisional squad of up to 55 players to FIFA before finalizing their 26-man tournament roster, Scotland's extended list likely includes current under-21 stars and uncapped talents like Stephen Welsh—the 26-year-old centre-half who has impressed on loan at Motherwell from Celtic.
As Tuesday's deadline approaches, Clarke's final selection promises plenty of drama—and for Conway, it's a waiting game that could define his summer.