Much has been suggested of lack of strength in depth of potential Scotland World Cup goalkeepers for Steve Clarke. Are they suggestions true or exaggerated? This is the 3rd of 3 parts of our look far and wide at those still playing, to have been suggested as Scotland World Cup goalkeepers. Who’s likeliest to board the plane? To find out more, read on.
13) Jon McCracken
| Age | 25 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 5 |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | Dundee |
| Current club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 72.6 (36th globally) |
Background
In September 2024 McCracken, was called up by Steve Clarke as a replacement to the Scotland squad, for the Nation’s League games versus Portugal and Poland. A subsequent drop in form then cost him his place in the Scotland squad and the Dundee side, with Trevor Carson yet again being preferred by his club boss. McCracken’s chances of a late call up to replace Cieran Slicker for the June 2025 game in Liechtenstein, weren’t helped by his being out of the 1st team since February. McCracken has near 90 career first team club appearances to date. He is yet another who likely has his best days ahead.
Recent form
McCracken is Dundee 1st choice again this season.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. He’s unestablished in the Scotland squad and relatively inexperienced compared to others.
14) Robby McCrorie
| Age | 27 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 46 |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | Esbjerg (on loan from Kilmarnock) |
| Current club division | Danish 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 62.6 (130th globally) |
Background
McCrorie’s 46 age group caps is the most of the 19 players in this feature. He has over 150 career 1st team club appearances to date. Like many players, he left Rangers seeking 1st team football. He already had 1st team experience from loans at Berwick Rangers, Morton, Queen of the South and Livingston. McCrorie then joined Kilmarnock in 2024, where so far he is yet to cement himself as automatic 1st choice.
Recent form
Hence, in August 2025 McCrorie embarked on a (Scots) season long loan to Esbjerg, for whom he has since been 1st choice (15 league and cup games so far). In his favour re World Cup candidacy, is that he has been in Steve Clarke Scotland squads before. Against him is that he is currently with a club in a division ranked 130th in the world.
Esbjerg coach Sancheev Manoharan in November was reported saying of McCrorie:
“I cannot say who to pick for the Scotland national team but in my opinion, when you see some of their other goalkeepers aren’t playing as regularly, then there could be a place for Robby. I can’t speak about the other goalkeepers but if he was to get a recall I would be so happy for him.” He added, “I feel he fully deserves that, although that is only from my perspective. His goalkeeping ability was always there but you can see him growing in stature and confidence. For me, he can absolutely play for one of the biggest clubs in Denmark.”
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unlikely. Lots would have to go his way between now and June for him to realistically move into serious contention.
15) Craig MacGillivray
| Age | 33 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 0 |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | MK Dons |
| Current club division | English 4th tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 67.2 (70th globally) |
Background
In March 2019, MacGillivray was Portsmouth’s Wembley penalty shootout hero in the Football Trophy Final v Sunderland in front of an 85,000 crowd. In Autumn that year, he sat on the bench in 6 Scotland European Championship qualifiers. As well as his Wembley spot kick save, he has twice saved 3 penalties in a shootout. MacGillivray has 300+ first team appearances to date.
If ever an example is needed of how a footballer’s fate is dependent on the manager, it’s the Perth born keeper. MacGillivray was Portsmouth player of the season in 2020-21. 8 weeks before the end of that season, new boss Danny Cowley took over. MacGillivray’s reward as Player of the Season; he was being moved on, with Cowley seeking a GK he felt better with the ball at his feet.
Recent form
Like Sam Long and Cieran Slicker, MacGillivray plays in England’s 4th tier. He and his club, MK Dons, are currently 3rd in their division. As well as being 1st choice since April, MacGillivray has set an MK Dons club record 7 consecutive shut outs (spanning last season and this). Dons’ boss Paul Warne said of MacGillivray, “he comes for crosses, which I love”.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. While the experienced MacGillivray seems again in upswing and is playing regularly, he is uncapped and several years out the Scotland picture.
16) Callan McKenna
| Age | 19 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | Disputed; 9 (SFA), 11 (Transfermarkt) |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | Bournemouth |
| Current club division | English 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 91.0 (1st globally) |
Background
McKenna was in the youth setup at Hibernian until he was 11, before joining Queen’s Park. His senior debut was aged 16 in the league cup in July 2023. His league debut 3 weeks later in Scotland’s 2nd tier, was in preference to the previous season’s divisional goalkeeper of the season, Calum Ferrie. After 9 Queen’s Park 1st team appearances, McKenna transferred to Bournemouth in early 2024.
None of McKenna’s age group Scotland appearances have so far been for the under 21s. McKenna and Ross Doohan were in June 2025 late call ups to the Scotland squad, immediately after Cieran Slicker’s difficult debut v Iceland. Doohan was selected to play v Liechtenstein.
Recent form
McKenna has yet to taste 1st team football with the south coast club. Like many other youngsters, his best days likely lie ahead.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. He is another who would benefit from extensive 1st team experience.
17) Jon McLaughlin
| Age | 38 |
| Full Scotland caps | 2 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 0 |
| Year of last cap | 2019 (home v San Marino) |
| Current club | Middlesbrough |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 79.2 (6th globally) |
Background
McLaughlin spent a season at Hearts in his football journey, and latterly had 4 years at Rangers among his clubs. At Rangers he was understudy initially to Allan McGregor and then Jack Butland. When given the chance at the Rangers #1 spot, he was unconvincing he was right for the job. On leaving Ibrox in 2024, he was back up GK at Swansea City for a year
Recent form
McLaughlin is now at Middlesbrough. Only Callan McKenna is at a club in a higher Opta ranked division than any other players in this feature expressing interest in playing for Scotland. Boro currently fly high in 2nd place, helped by Tommy Conway’s 3 goals in the last 2 games. McLaughlin though has zero 1st team minutes this season.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. Craig Gordon has exhibited that being in the autumn of a career isn’t prohibitive to Scotland selection. McLaughlin though is a long time out of 1st team football, nor has he Gordon’s pedigree.
18) Cieran Slicker
| Age | 23 |
| Full Scotland caps | 1 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 23 |
| Year of last full cap | 2025 (home v Iceland) |
| Current club | Barnet (on loan from Ipswich Town) |
| Current club division | English 4th tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 67.2 (70th globally) |
Background
Slicker is the man who when part of the Manchester City youth setup, hunted down Malky Mackay of the SFA, on hearing Mackay was visiting City’s training ground to see another player. Slicker then said to Mackay, ‘My dad’s Glaswegian and I want to play for Scotland’.
Clarke stated after Slicker’s difficult Scotland debut in June v Iceland, that Slicker “got thrown into a situation that he wasn’t quite ready for. That wasn’t his fault.” As the man who put Slicker into that situation, Clarke is well positioned to comment. At the time of his Scotland debut, Slicker had zero minutes of career 1st team league football to his name, and 11 cup appearances against senior opposition (including those for Man. City’s under-21s in the Football Trophy).
Recent form
Slicker though seems to be bouncing back well after his difficult Hampden appearance. He has been 1st choice at Barnet this season who after a difficult start, are now comfortably mid-table. Slicker was Barnet Supporter’s Association September Player of the Month, with 2 penalty saves when winning 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra, and “made numerous outstanding one-on-one stops,” in Barnet’s 1-1 draw at Oldham.
Slicker is another who seems to have his best years ahead of him. At the very least now from his time at Barnet, he can be self-confident he has a career ahead of him as a pro footballer. It’s now up to him to find and prove the level he should be playing at.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. Steve Clarke seems to see something in Slicker. It is difficult to imagine though that for all the progress Slicker has made this season, Clarke would select him for this year’s World Cup.
19) Jason Steele
| Age | 35 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 0 |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | Brighton and Hove Albion |
| Current club division | English 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 91.0 (1st globally) |
Background
Jason Steele is arguably the best in this feature with the ball at his feet. Like Gordon and Gunn, Steele is one of the few goalies on this 19 player list to have played in 1 of the world’s top 5 ranked divisions. Steele has battled it out with Robert Sánchez and then Bart Verbruggen to be Brighton 1st choice keeper.
Press reports in 2023 indicated Steele declined when sounded out about representing Scotland.
Recent form
Last season and this, Steele has very much been 2nd choice to Verbruggen.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. Should someone not wish to play for Scotland, that’s their choice. Plenty others do, so no hard feelings and onwards and upwards.
Conclusion
If fit, Gordon and Gunn currently seem certainties to be on the plane. The 3rd GK seat seems between Liam Kelly and the resurgent Scott Bain. Zander Clark seems likeliest of any to potentially displace or replace those two, should injuries come into play. Lots can change though between now and June. Exciting times ahead.
