James Forrest has been named in the starting lineup for Scotland’s first warm-up match against Gibraltar in Portugal.
The match serves as a crucial platform for Forrest, who looks like he’ll play as a right wing with the current injury issues in that area.
Forrest’s inclusion from the start is a significant nod from Clarke, especially given Forrest’s pivotal role in Celtic’s late-season surge, which undoubtedly contributed to his call-up to the provisional Euro squad. This game against Gibraltar offers Forrest a golden opportunity to cement his place in the final 26-man squad for the tournament in Germany, which kicks off on June 14.
🏴 Your Scotland team to take on Gibraltar at the Estádio Algarve this afternoon.#GIBSCO pic.twitter.com/poAyLnPVpR
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 3, 2024
Sitting on the bench for Scotland in this match are three of Forrest’s Celtic teammates, captain Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston, and Greg Taylor.
The left-back is coming off recent marriage celebrations and has joined up with the squad in the last few days.
Forrest’s performance in this preparatory match could be decisive in his efforts to impress Clarke and secure his spot for the Euros.
It’s the perfect opportunity to show the manager his worth ahead of the tournament. It’s a surprising start, but he’ll be looking to impress.
With the right-wing back position currently up for grabs, a strong showing could propel him into a key role for Scotland in the highly anticipated European tournament.
