SCOTLAND fans were crying out for a new-look team to face Iceland in tonight’s friendly clash.
But Steve Clarke stuck by his guns and went for the tried and tested at the national stadium, with just Max Johnston and George Hirst making their first starts for Scotland.
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Clarke, 61, clearly has his eyes on the World Cup qualifiers in September as he named a familiar side to face Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s men.
Unsurprisingly Kieran Tierney, who is back to full fitness, returned to the manager’s starting side – making his 50th appearance for the national team in the process.
Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay are both in action once again – just weeks after their Serie A triumph with Napoli.
Fellow Serie A star Lewis Ferguson joined them in midfield along with John McGinn to make up the midfield four.
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Clarke went for his familiar five at the back tonight, and it’s one of his decisions in defence that has raised some eyebrows.
Grant Hanley, who recently joined Birmingham, is back in the lineup once again at centre-back alongside Tierney and Rangers defender John Souttar.
It’s the 33-year-old’s 62nd cap for the national team.
But despite being a regular in the squad, many fans are furious by the fact the veteran has been selected once again.
Many have slammed the “baffling” decision to give him the nod in a friendly.
Taking to social media platform X, one fan wrote: “Baffles me how Hanley still gets called ups 🤦.”
Another agreed: “Baffling not having a young centre half playing.”
Someone else said: “An absolute pointless friendly and he still plays Hanley.”
A fourth laughed: “Grant Hanley will still be starting for us in 2045.”
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