Steve Clarke salutes Ross Stewart after handing him Scotland World Cup recall

Steve Clarke believes Ross Stewart’s return to the Scotland squad for this summer’s World Cup is a “good story” and well deserved.

The Southampton striker has netted 10 goals in his last 21 appearances to help fire the Saints to the Championship play-off final.

The 29-year-old former Ross County and Sunderland forward earned his only two caps to date in 2022 before injury hampered his progress.

He joins Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland and George Hirst as Scotland’s striking options for the finals.

Speaking at his squad announcement at Barclays Hampden, Clarke said: “I think it’s a good story.

“Ross obviously was in my squad a few years ago showing that he could come up to this level, he was good in the squad.

“Then he’s had a terrible run of injury and obviously this season, certainly the latter half of the season from January onwards, he’s hit a rich vein of form where he’s shown that he can score big goals in big games.

“Probably reference the Arsenal game in the FA Cup where he showed that he can have an impact on games of that level. The World Cup will be a very high level as well.

“He’s shown that he can score from the bench and he’s a striker in form, so I decided to add him to the group.

“You know I put a lot importance on characters and people within the group.

“When you go away, you’re going to be away hopefully for four or five weeks, you need good relationships between all the players. It’s very important that we have that.”

Rangers winger Findlay Curtis has kept his place after making his debut in March following some good form on loan with Kilmarnock.

Clarke praised the 19-year-old for leaving Ibrox, albeit temporarily, in pursuit of game time.

The former Kilmarnock boss said: “Young players need to play football. If they want to improve, they have to play.

“And sometimes that can involve making big decisions.

“And I think for Findlay to make a decision to leave Rangers in January and go and play at Kilmarnock shows you that if you make the right choices at the right time and then you have the ability to back up that decision, then things can work in your favour.

“I was impressed when I brought him into the camp in March, obviously brought him in to have a look at him to, get a feel for the character, the person as much as the player and he fitted in very well.

“He’s got something a little bit different to what we’ve got.

“He’s also shown that he can score a goal or two in a Kilmarnock team that was struggling down the bottom, so since Findlay went there in January, along with a couple of other signings, the team has finished well.

“Findlay finished the season in a great place and it’s nice to have a young one in the squad.”

Ben Gannon-Doak has also been included in Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad after making three appearances off the bench for Bournemouth since suffering a serious hamstring injury in Scotland’s win over Denmark in November.

Scotland squad for 2026 World Cup: Craig Gordon, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly; Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Dom Hyam, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney; Ryan Christie, Findlay Curtis, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay; Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, Ross Stewart.