Steve Clarke has announced his March 2026 Scotland squad, his 1st since qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Specifically using Opta and other metrics as per 17 March 2026, this is part 1 of 4 of the analysis of that squad. Here we look at goalies.
Scott Bain
| Age | 34 |
| Full caps | 3 |
| Club | Falkirk |
| Club’s division | Scottish 1st |
| Opta rating of club’s division | 74.0 |
| Opta global ranking of club’s division | 39th |
As previously mentioned in part 1 of our article profiling 19 potential goalkeepers for the World Cup squad, Bain has returned to being a 1st team regular since transferring to Falkirk from Celtic last summer. Consequently, Bain is regarded as having done well overall this season, and an important factor in Falkirk being a top 6 side on their return to the Scots top tier this season.
England’s League One (containing Zander Clark on loan at Rotherham United), has now dropped to 42nd in the Opta rankings. Thus, no Scottish goalkeeper can currently claim to be playing regular 1st team football at a higher level than Scott Bain.
Angus Gunn
| Age | 30 |
| Full caps | 20 |
| Club | Nottingham Forest |
| Club’s division | English 1st |
| Opta rating of club’s division | 90.7 |
| Opta global ranking of club’s division | 1st |
Similarly as mentioned in part 2 of our detailed profile of 19 goalkeeping options, Gunn joined Nottingham Forest last summer expecting to be #2 to Matz Sels. However, Gunn then found himself at #3 in the GK pecking order after Forest also signed John Victor. Furthermore, Gunn’s overall position in the Forest pecking order has since deteriorated further. Specifically, with Sels & Victor injured, Forest signed Stefan Ortega to further relegate Gunn down their GK pecking order.
Thus, Gunn has a grand total of 45 minutes (plus 2nd half stoppage time), of club first team football this season. Since that solitary appearance in early February, Gunn has been on the bench in Forest’s last 8 games. Consequently with 4 appearances in the autumn World Cup qualifiers, Gunn has played more international than club football this season. With Craig Gordon currently injured, Gunn is very much current favourite to start v Haiti in June.
Liam Kelly
| Age | 30 |
| Full caps | 1 |
| Club | Rangers |
| Club’s division | Scottish 1st |
| Opta rating of club’s division | 74.0 |
| Opta global ranking of club’s division | 39th |
No significant change to Kelly’s status since he was profiled on this website with Steve Clarke’s other GK options. He remains 2nd choice at Rangers to Jack Butland. Kelly’s 3 Rangers 1st team appearances this season have been cup games v lower league opponents.
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