Scotland given boost ahead of Euro 2024 as major rule change takes step forward

A KEY Uefa committee has voted in favour of expanding the squad sizes for Euro 2024.

A campaign to increase the limit on the number of players teams could take to Germany has been gathering pace over the past week.

Scotland would be among those set to benefit from the rule change, particularly given the recent spate of injuries suffered by important members of the squad.

Lewis Ferguson and Nathan Patterson look set to miss the Euros altogether and there are serious doubts over Aaron Hickey and Ryan Jack‘s involvement.

Stuart Armstrong has also been added to that list but after initially fearing it was a bad one, Southampton gaffer Russell Martin today announced the midfielder’s injury doesn’t look as bad as first thought.

As things stand, countries are able to name only 23 players for their squad.

Euros coaches are in favour of being able to pick a further three players to bring the total to 26.

England boss Gareth Southgate backs the idea, which was also put in place for the Covid-affected Euro 2020 tournament.

According to French sports newspaper L’Équipe, Uefa’s National Team Competitions Committee voted by a majority today for an expansion of 23 to 26 players per nation this summer’s finals.

That is the first step to the rule change going ahead but it is the governing body’s executive committee which will have the final say.

It meets later this week. The committee’s Philippe Diallo, who is also the president of the French Football Federation, is understood to be in favour of the limit remaining at 23.

Given the fitness issues Steve Clarke faces, an increased squad size would enable him to take a chance on some of the player who might not be at 100% going into the competition.

It would also allow him more flexibility with his final squad selections in the forward areas, with Scotland notably light on options in the final third.

Lyndon Dykes broke his goal drought at the weekend and alongside the QPR man it seems Che Adams is a cert to be included. Ryan Christie has also tended to be selected as a forward under Clarke.

Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland is the first of those who can’t be considered a definite to be on the plane to Germany but he is likely at the front of a queue that includes Bristol City ace Tommy Conway, Luton Town star Jacob Brown and Millwall striker Kevin Nisbet.

Ryan Hardie and Oliver McBurnie have also been mentioned but they would be wildcard selections at this point in time.

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