Scotland manager Steve Clarke confirmed Andy Robertson will keep the captain’s armband for Tuesday’s Nations League meeting with Slovenia at Hampden Park as he rebuilds a defence deprived of Scott McKenna after a late red card in Skopje.
Declan Byrne writes: Robertson marked his 100th cap with a 2–0 win in North Macedonia on 3 October, Sebastien Pocognoli’s first victory as head coach, but the night ended with McKenna dismissed for a second bookable offence — a suspension that forces Clarke to rethink centre-back pairings before Slovenia arrive.
Selection puzzle
Clarke experimented with a back three in Skopje, using McKenna alongside Grant Hanley and John Souttar. Without McKenna, Hanley is the likely senior partner, with Souttar or Kieran Tierney slotting in depending on whether Clarke returns to a four or persists with three at the back.
Full-back options remain strong: Robertson on the left, Stephen O’Donnell or Ross Graham on the right, with Tierney able to tuck inside if Clarke wants extra midfield control against Slovenia’s possession-heavy setup.
Robertson’s milestone
Robertson told BBC Scotland the centenary cap “means everything” to his family and praised teammates for delivering the win he requested as a birthday present of sorts. Only Kenny Dalglish had previously reached 100 men’s caps for Scotland.
Pocognoli, appointed after a summer search, now has breathing room after two opening Nations League draws had fuelled criticism. Beating North Macedonia away silenced some doubters; failing against Slovenia at home would reopen the debate before November fixtures against Switzerland and another North Macedonia test.
Slovenia scouting
Slovenia sit mid-table in Group B1 after mixed results under their own new coach cycle. Clarke’s analysts flagged set-piece vulnerability — Scotland conceded from a corner in Skopje before Kieron Bowie’s brace turned the match.
Attendance at Hampden is expected to clear 40,000 with kick-off at 7:45pm Tuesday, a quick turnaround after Friday’s international travel.
Club workload
Premier League clubs released 26 Scotland-eligible players for this window. Liverpool kept a close eye on Robertson’s minutes, but national-team staff say he trained fully Thursday. Celtic’s Callum McGregor and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay are central in midfield if Clarke opts for a 4-3-3.
What success looks like
Three points would lift Scotland above Slovenia in the table and ease pressure before the November double-header. For Robertson, another captain’s performance would cap a landmark fortnight — provided Clarke finds a centre-back pairing that survives 90 minutes without another card crisis.