Scotland’s squad in 6 years time will include current Glasgow Rangers, Celtic, Leeds and Newcastle players, according to FM17.
It’s 2022 on Football Manager 2017; Celtic have just won their eleventh consecutive SPL title, Rangers have just finished as runners-up for the sixth consecutive season and Manchester City have finally been crowned the champions of Europe.
How about the Scottish national team then? Much-maligned in recent times, having failed to qualify for the Euros in France and their chances of reaching the World Cup finals in 2018 already looking slim, the Tartan Army did finally qualify for a major tournament for the first time since 1998, reaching the group stages of the 2020 European Championship’s.
Sadly, the national team, now managed by David Moyes, couldn’t follow that up with qualification to the 2022 World Cup which has been moved from Qatar to Argentina. Despite the setback, the future looks bright, with a young squad containing some top prospects. Here is the Scotland starting XI in 2022 according to Football Manager 2017:
Scotland’s stars of the future according to FM17
Goalkeeper: Robby McCrorie
By far the best Scottish prospect in the Rangers squad according to FM17, talented young goalkeeper Robby McCrorie develops into a fine player. The 18-year-old Ibrox starlet is currently contracted to Rangers, but the Gers are struggling to hold onto McCrorie in 2022 as Premier League interest mounts.
Right-Back: Jack Grimmer
Currently on-loan at Shrewsbury Town, former Aberdeen full-back Jack Grimmer may already be 22, but he has a lot of potential on FM17. Fulham have become a breeding ground for fine young players in recent years, and Grimmer becomes a very capable right-back at the Cottage.
Centre-Back: Grant Hanley
Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley in action for Scotland
Already a full Scotland international with 27 caps to his name, Newcastle United summer signing Grant Hanley is one of the senior members of the Scotland squad by 2022, aged 30 and with 62 caps to his name. The former Rangers trainee joined Newcastle from Blackburn in the summer, but is yet to make the impact he would have liked at St James’ Park.
Centre-Back: Alex Iacovitti
Described as an “old-school centre-half”, Alex Iacovitti was born in England, but has already represented Scotland at U17, U19 and U21 levels. The 19-year-old is currently contracted to Nottingham Forest but is on-loan at Mansfield Town.
Picked up by Celtic in 2017 on FM17, the youngster has become a stalwart of the Bhoys defence, and they are currently fending off interest from a handful of Serie A clubs.
Left-Back: Andy Robertson
The position in which Scotland have the most class, both Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney have become top class full-backs by 2022, but it is the Hull City man who gets the nod over the Celtic man on international duty. Like Hanley, Robertson has 62 caps to his name, although the former Dundee United man is 2 years younger than his compatriot.
Defensive Midfield: Ruben Sammut
Chelsea’s Ruben Sammut and Tottenham’s Anton Walkes
Whilst Chelsea are notoriously stingy when it comes to giving their youth players a chance in the first team, one cannot deny their recent ability to create and develop talent. Maidstone-born, Mandarin speaking defensive midfielder Ruben Sammut was eligible for 3 nations, but chose Scotland, and he has just won his first cap for Scotland whilst playing for Huddersfield in 2022.
Central Midfield: Ryan Gauld
Dubbed Scotland’s Messi a couple of years ago, everything has gone quiet surrounding Ryan Gauld more recently. The 20-year-old midfielder is currently on-loan at Vitoria from Sporting CP in real life, and whilst he’s yet to make a real impact in Portugal, he is at a club with a remarkable record for developing talent and has become a key man for the Tartan Army by 2022.
Central Midfield: Alex Mowatt
Leeds United midfielder Alex Mowatt has been capped by England at U19 and U20 levels, but that hasn’t stopped Gordon Strachan trying to make him switch allegiances. On FM17, that’s exactly what he does, controversially making his Scotland debut against England in June 2017. He has become a regular for Leeds in the Premier League.
Right Wing: Oliver Burke
Oliver Burke in action for RB Leipzig
Currently playing for Bundesliga table toppers RB Leipzig, Oliver Burke has been touted as the next great hope of the Scottish national team and perhaps Scotland’s answer to Gareth Bale. The 19-year-old is already the most expensive Scottish footballer in history and he has become a very complete wide player by 2022.
Left Wing: Matt Phillips
Eligible to play for Scotland through his grandparents despite having played at various youth levels for England, Matt Phillips already has 4 caps for the Tartan Army, but he has racked up 47 by 2022. The West Bromwich Albion man is better suited to playing on the right but has been forced onto the left due to Burke’s brilliance.
Centre-Forward: Jack Aitchison
Celtic wonder kid Jack Aitchison was born in the year 2000, and the 16-year-old currently has a record of 1 goal from 1 appearance for the Bhoys, having scored with his first touch as a second half substitute against Motherwell at Celtic Park. Already a Scotland U21 international, Aitchison is still only 22 in 2022, and yet to hit his absolute peak.
Jack Aitchison scores with his first touch for Celtic
Squad
Matt Ritchie and Jack Hendry are the only notable absentees through injury for Scotland, with Ritchie having recently picked up a knock whilst playing for Galatasaray in Turkey. Celtic youngsters Ryan Christie and regen Mark Quinn are close to breaking into the first team, especially Quinn who is already being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs, much like Moussa Dembele right now.
Other substitutes include Liam Bridcutt currently of Leeds United, Ryan Fulton currently of Liverpool and Che Adams who joined Birmingham City from Sheffield United in the summer. Steven Naismith is the elder statesman of the team, aged 35 with 69 caps to his name, he is due to retire at the end of the season, having joined Rangers from Norwich in 2020.
Current star Robert Snodgrass has retired by 2022 on FM17
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