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The return of Kieran Tierney has given Scotland head coach Steve Clark “a lot to think about” going into the Nations League play-off with Greece.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Arsenal defender picked up a hamstring injury during Euro 2024, missing all of the matches in Scotland’s debut campaign in the top tier of the competition.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old has been used sparingly by the London club, starting just twice in 11 appearances since late December.<\/p>\n
He has been an integral player for Clarke, mostly deployed on the left of a back three.<\/p>\n
But Scotland have had success using two central defenders in his absence, finishing third in their group to avoid automatic demotion.<\/p>\n
“As a coach, you want as many difficult choices as possible,” Clarke said ahead of Thursday’s first leg in Athens. “I’ve got a few of them.<\/p>\n
“It gives us another option. We’ve discussed it. Hopefully, we can come up with the right solution for the game.”<\/p>\n
Scotland finished their League A section strongly, beating Croatia and Poland after a home draw with Portugal.<\/p>\n
“The team has been good with a back four,” Clarke said. “Obviously, we changed the whole way we approached the game in the Nations League. <\/p>\n
“The group stages, we went four. It worked. It worked well because we also had the little outlet on the right-hand side with the pace of Ben Doak and we didn’t have the option of putting Kieran into the team. <\/p>\n
“So, yeah, it’s given me a lot to think about.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n