No Celtic or Rangers players started for Scotland in their win over Malta.
General view of Celtic Park
Next weekend the showpiece game of Scottish football returns, with Rangers and Celtic contesting the first league clash between the two clubs since 2012.
There is huge anticipation ahead of the fixture at Celtic Park, and there will be huge attention worldwide on the SPFL fixture.
Yet despite this, not a single Celtic or Rangers player featured in the starting line up for Scotland last night for Gordon Strachan’s new look side.
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan before the match
There was plenty of talent in the team which started Scotland beat Malta 5-1, just not representatives of the country’s two most successful clubs.
The line up was constructed mainly of players plying their trade in England, with Callum Paterson of Hearts the only one from the SPFL, while Red Bull Leipzig’s Oliver Burke was another exception.
Rangers and Celtic players did feature on the bench, with James Forrest coming off the bench in the second half.
Celtic teammate Craig Gordon was an unused substitute as was Rangers’ Barrie McKay.
Celtic’s James Forrest
With just three players of 23 in the Scotland squad representing Celtic and Rangers, and none starting, it should potentially be cause for reflection from both managers regarding the way their squads are constructed.
Are they bringing in too much talent from England or further abroad to bulk up their squad, or are they simply unable to stop the talent drain south of the border?
Five players from England’s second tier started, and this may be a reflection of Scotland’s weak league or lack of competitiveness. Rangers being back in the top flight could help to start redress this.
The focus will be well and truly on both teams next Sunday, and what odds a Scotsman comes up to score the winning goal?
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