We highlighted 18 days ago that only 4 Scotland eligible GKs in the Opta top 75 globally ranked divisions, are playing regular first team football this season. That situation has since worsened. Hence, we give the latest update on the 21 Scottish goalkeepers in that previous article, including the rare beacons doing well at their respective clubs. All stats are as per article publication date.
1. Vincent Angelini
| Age | 23 (12.09.2003) |
| Current club | Galway United |
| Club division | Rep. of Ireland 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 69.6 (78th globally) |
| Current playing status | 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The once highly rated Celtic youngster is yet to seal first team football since signing for clubs in England, Norway & now Ireland. Previously he was selected for Scotland U21 squads. He is the grandson of Scotland 1974 World Cup internationalist, Davie Hay.
Latest update
Angelini is among the Scottish goalkeepers we profile who are still to play any competitive first team football this season. 25-year-old Portuguese, Hugo Cunha, has been Galway’s perennial first choice GK since his July promotion to Galway #1.
2. Jordan Archer
| Age | 33 (12.04.1993) |
| Current club | Unattached |
| Club division | N/A |
| Club division Opta rating | N/A |
| Current playing status | Not playing |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The one cap ex-Scotland internationalist, was released by Portsmouth in the Summer after 2 years there as a backup. Pompey boss, John Mousinho, described Archer as “brilliant, amazing around the place”. However, we can find no evidence that the ex-Motherwell GK has as yet signed for another club.
Latest update
No change.
3. Scott Bain
| Age | 34 (22.11.1991) |
| Current club | Falkirk |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 1st team regular |
| In latest Scotland squad? | Yes |
September update
4 cap Bain missed out on the World Cup squad due to injury. He seemed in contention after playing solidly in his 45 mins v Côte d’Ivoire in March. Further, he is both fit again & first choice at Falkirk this season.
Latest update
Bain was one of the 3 squad selected Scottish goalkeepers who didn’t play in any of the 4 internationals during the latest break. Specifically, he was benched in all 4 Scotland games & thus remains on 4 Scotland Men’s National Team (SMNT) caps.
Further, Bain retained his Falkirk first team place v Dundee at the weekend in the first game after the latest international break. Falkirk lost 2-1 at home to Dundee.
4. Chris Brady
| Age | 22 (03.03.2004) |
| Current club | Chicago Fire |
| Club division | USA 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 79.5 (17th globally) |
| Current playing status | 1st team regular |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
Brady is again in the latest USMNT squad. And as per our debunk article, despite misleading press reports there is no evidence he is interested in representing Scotland. He currently plays in the highest Opta ranked division of any Scotland eligible GKs.
Latest update
The MLS only skipped 1 weekend for the international break just ended. To further clarify, Brady missed 2 Chicago Fire MLS games while he was on international duty. Brady was recalled straight back into the Chicago Fire first team at the weekend for the first game following the international break.
Making 5 saves out of 6 possible saves contributed to the high ratings he has on stats sites from that game (e.g., Flashscore, 8.0, FotMob 7.8). However, the issue for Scots remains that he has never expressed interest in representing Scotland. Indeed, he gained his 2nd USMNT cap during the latest international break, when given 45 mins in the USA 4-2 home win v Chile.
By FIFA regulations he remains eligible for Scotland since neither of his 2 USMNT caps were competitive games. However, any prospect of Brady switching international allegiance to the ranks of Scottish goalkeepers seems negligible to zero.
5. Zander Clark
| Age | 34 (26.06.1992) |
| Current club | Heart of Midlothian |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 3rd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The 4 cap ex-internationalist has yet to play first team football, since returning from loan at Rotherham back to Hearts in the Summer. Specifically, Clark started the season as #2 at Hearts. However, he hasn’t made the match day squad since the Europa League trip to Benfica on 6 August.
Latest update
Beau Reus played for Hearts winning 5-0 at the weekend with Ryan Fulton on the bench. Hence, there is no change for Clark in the Hearts GK pecking order. As well as Clark & Fulton, Hearts have actually 3 senior Scottish goalkeepers on their books. The 3rd is 22-year-old Liam McFarlane on loan at 2nd tier Partick Thistle.
6. Ross Doohan
| Age | 28 (29.03.1998) |
| Current club | Celtic |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 3rd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
Doohan has one full Scotland cap. And with Sam Johnstone recently joining Celtic, Doohan has dropped back down the pecking order to again be Celtic #3.
Latest update
Viljami Sinisalo started for Celtic winning 2-0 at Motherwell at the weekend. Johnstone deputised meaning Doohan remains Celtic 3rd choice overall. However, Doohan’s status as a Celtic youth product means he will at least be in the squad for their Europa League visit to Benfica on Thursday.
7. Ryan Fulton
| Age | 30 (23.05.1996) |
| Current club | Heart of Midlothian |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The ex-U21 internationalist is currently #2 at Hearts. Namely, he is ahead of Zander Clark and behind Beau Reus.
Latest update
Fulton was on the Hearts bench winning 5-0 v St Mirren meaning Fulton remains Hearts #2. As mentioned above he is one of 3 senior Scottish goalkeepers on the books currently at Hearts.
8. Angus Gunn
| Age | 30 (22.01.1996) |
| Current club | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Club division | USA 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 79.5 (17th globally) |
| Current playing status | 3rd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | Yes |
September update
25 cap Gunn was Scotland GK at the World Cup. He is also widely tipped to retain his place in the Scotland starting line up tomorrow in Ljubljana. Like Brady he currently plays in the highest Opta ranked division of any Scotland eligible GKs.
Latest update
Gunn has played every minute of every game so far that Seb Pocognoli has managed the SMNT. Hence, Gunn now has 29 SMNT caps. He is the only one of the currently playing Scottish goalkeepers with more than 4 senior caps.
34-year-old Earl Edwards played in the one Quakes game Gunn missed while on international duty. In that game the Quakes beat visiting Portland Timbers 3-1.
Also, not only did Edwards subsequently retain his starting place at the weekend drawing 1-1 at Colorado Rapids; he was Player of the Match making 9 saves out of a possible 10. Edwards’ efforts earned his club a valuable away point in a game in which his side had only 37% ball possession.
Gunn available again at the weekend didn’t even make the Quakes match day squad. 26-year-old Francesco Montali retained his GK place on the bench, that he had been promoted to while Gunn was away on international duty.
The current outlook for Gunn at San Jose doesn’t look good. If his fortunes there don’t improve, he is prospectively facing transfer to a lower level division somewhere. If Gunn is unable to regain his place in the Quakes first team, will that tip Seb Pocognoli to start another GK in the November international break?
9. Nicky Hogarth
| Age | 25 (04.07.2001) |
| Current club | Falkirk |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
Hogarth played 5 times for Falkirk at the end of last season when Bain was injured. However, with Bain back to fitness, Hogarth has returned to the bench. Previously, Hogarth made it into Scotland U21 squads in 2022.
Latest update
Hogarth again deputised for Bain at the weekend just past. As per this list, Falkirk’s Hogarth & Bain both are Scottish goalkeepers.
10. Liam Kelly
| Age | 30 (23.01.1996) |
| Current club | Rangers |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | Yes |
September update
The 3 cap internationalist has retained his Scotland squad place. That is despite zero first team games this season & only 3 club first team games last season (all in cup games v lower league opposition). While his current Scotland squad inclusion may seem odd given his lack of playing time, he is widely reported as being an amazing character & a tremendous influence on squad morale. Additionally, Pocognoli’s squad has 3 other GKs all of whom currently play regularly. Kelly is thus likely current 4th choice & in the squad as a training GK.
Latest update
Kelly was another of the 3 squad selected Scottish goalkeepers who didn’t play in any of the 4 internationals during that break just ended. Like Bain, Kelly was benched for all 4 Scotland games in that international break. Hence, Kelly remains on 3 SMNT caps.
Further, Kelly unsurprisingly was again on the Rangers bench at the weekend. Ivor Pandur’s stats are very solid for Derek McInnes’ clicking into gear Rangers machine. Hence, there seems no current prospect of anything other than a Pandur injury giving Kelly any sort of Rangers first team football. However, the exception to that may be domestic cup football. That suggestion is because of those 3 Rangers cup games that Kelly played last season, all against lower league opponents.
It says much of the available Scottish goalkeepers that someone playing such infrequent first team club football, is a regular on the SMNT bench.
11. Ross Laidlaw
| Age | 34 (12.07.1992) |
| Current club | Unattached |
| Club division | N/A |
| Club division Opta rating | N/A |
| Current playing status | Not playing |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
In 2023, then Scotland assistant boss, John Carver, stated Ross County’s Laidlaw was under consideration for a Scotland call up. However, last season glandular fever & then knee surgery restricted Laidlaw to only 10 first team appearances. It seems County missed him as they were relegated for the 2nd consecutive season. Consequently they now play in Scotland’s 3rd tier.
County released Laidlaw in the Summer. He was reported in the Summer as progressing with coaching badges. Back to full fitness, he has since played for a club at no higher a level than with Highland League Strathspey Thistle. However, he has not played for them since August.
Latest update
The Press & Journal 8 days ago published an interview with Laidlaw, stating Laidlaw’s wife Claire accepted an initial 2 year teaching post at Hartland International School in Dubai. Laidlaw commented:
“Claire is enjoying her teaching job and I coach academy kids (at Elite Sports Academy in Dubai) as well as being in charge of running a venue at Jess Jumeirah (English-speaking) School.”
However, perhaps most interestingly for Scotland fans, Laidlaw revealed:
“I had a few options to come here and play part-time, but there are different rules where, in the Pro League and League One, clubs are not allowed to sign a foreign goalkeeper. Those are the top two divisions.”
Hence, rules in the UAE mean GKs are only permitted to play in the part-time third and fourth tiers. The SFA put forward at the St Andrews summit last month, proposals to increase Scottish player time in Scottish domestic football. Those proposals seem timid in comparison with those Laidlaw described. Hence compared to the UAE approach, it seems no surprise top notch Scottish goalkeepers are scarce.
12. Sam Long
| Age | 23 (12.11.2002) |
| Current club | Salford City |
| Club division | English 4th tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 68.8 (87th globally) |
| Current playing status | 3rd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The ex-Scotland U21 squad member transferred from Bromley in the Summer. Long hasn’t been a first team regular since his 2024 half season loan at Falkirk.
Latest update
Long was #2 for Salford’s first 6 games of the season. However, in the 7 Salford games since then he has only made the match day squad for the 2 Football Trophy games in that 7 game sequence. He was on the bench in both those 2 games.
13. Jon McCracken
| Age | 26 (24.05.2000) |
| Current club | Bradford City |
| Club division | English 3rd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.7 (43rd globally) |
| Current playing status | 1st team regular |
| In latest Scotland squad? | Yes |
September update
He impressively has 7 clean sheets from his 10 Bradford appearances so far, propelling them to currently sit top of the table. Consequently, McCracken is quickly becoming a fan favourite after moving to Bradford in the Summer. Further, such has been his commanding goalkeeping, some Bradford fans are concerned a higher division club will buy him in the January transfer window. Will Pocognoli give him a debut full cap in this international window?
Latest update
McCracken didn’t make it to any of Pocognoli’s 4 Scotland match day squads. That indicates McCracken was rated 4th among Scottish goalkeepers by Pocognoli behind Gunn who played, & Bain & Kelly who warmed the bench in those 4 internationals.
McCracken missed 2 Bradford games while on international duty; one in the league & one in the Football Trophy. Cameron Dawson deputised for Bradford in McCracken’s absence. However, like Bain & Brady & unlike Gunn, McCracken was recalled to his club’s first team at the weekend just past.
In that 0-0 home draw v Leyton Orient, McCracken chalked up yet another Bradford City clean sheet, his 8th in his 11 Bradford games so far. However, the defence in front of McCracken must again take credit. Specifically, McCracken was only asked to make one save in that game. In his 8 Bradford league games so far he has only had to make 11 saves. Those 11 though give him a 73.3% save percentage. He has a league +1.35 Goals Prevented stat for Bradford.
His Bradford stats in the League Cup are even more impressive. His 12 saves give him 92.3% save attainment. In those 3 League Cup games his Goals Prevented metric is +2.77. His relative weakness though in league & cup is a successful pass rate in the low 40s.
McCracken is something of a rarity among Scottish goalkeepers in that his star is currently in the ascendancy.
14. Robby McCrorie
| Age | 28 (18.03.1998) |
| Current club | Varaždin |
| Club division | Croatian 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 78.6 (21st globally) |
| Current playing status | Injured 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The ex-U21 internationalist is already much travelled with a club history in Scotland, Denmark & now Croatia. He is yet to play competitive first team football since his Summer transfer to his new club.
Latest update
McCrorie at the weekend lost his place on the bench due to injury. His place as 2nd choice GK instead went to 17-year-old Rino Grubisic.
15. Craig MacGillivray
| Age | 33 (12.01.1993) |
| Current club | Milton Keynes Dons |
| Club division | English 3rd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.7 (43rd globally) |
| Current playing status | 3rd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
After impressing earning promotion last season to England’s 3rd tier, MacGillivray was justified hoping for a Scotland recall this term. However, his form this season has been inconsistent with e.g., FotMob ratings fluctuating between 5.4 & 8.9. Consequently, he has been benched for the Dons’ last 2 league games.
Latest update
MacGillivray is another like Gunn whose situation is deteriorating. MacGillivray started the season continuing from last season as the first choice Dons GK. However, as per our previous update, MacGillivray was benched for 2 games in late September. 26-year-old Will Dennis has instead been first choice GK.
In the 3 MK Dons games since then, MacGillivray hasn’t even made the match day squad. His place as backup to Dennis has instead gone to 20-year-old Seb Stacey. On Saturday, Dennis made only 1 out of the 6 saves asked of him in a bad 5-1 home defeat by Reading. However, in Dennis’ defence, his Goals Prevented stat is only -0.32 (note the minus sign). Hence, 4.68 of the 5 goals conceded are attributed to shortcomings elsewhere among his team mates.
The Dons are currently 23rd in their 24 team division. They are winless in the league this season with only 6 draws to show from their 8 league games.
16. Ed McGinty
| Age | 27 (05.08.1999) |
| Current club | Shamrock Rovers |
| Club division | Rep. of Ireland 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 69.6 (78th globally) |
| Current playing status | First team regular |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The Oxford United website states McGinty, “was born in Scotland and played youth football for Celtic and Hibernian before moving to Ireland”. Transfermarkt lists him specifically as Motherwell born. He has played youth football for Republic of Ireland but has not played senior international football. Hence he retains multi-eligibility. He is thus a 5th Scots eligible GK currently playing regularly in the Opta top 100 ranked divisions globally. Hence he is included in this list for completeness.
Latest update
McGinty continues to hold his place as first choice GK at Rovers. Just imagine if Seb Pocognoli were today to select an SMNT squad with only GKs based on these criteria:
a) Currently playing regular first team football. And;
b) Auto-selected based on the ranking of the division that in-scope GKs play in
Given that Chris Brady currently plays for another nation & that Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly & others didn’t play in the most recent game for their respective clubs, the GKs selected in order would be:
- Scott Bain
- Jon McCracken
- Ed McGinty
- Likely someone from the Scottish 2nd tier, currently ranked 158th globally
Of course, it is possible that McGinty as an ex-Ireland youth cap, could Aiden McGeady style turn down Scotland in the hypothetical situation that McGinty is asked.
17. Callan McKenna
| Age | 19 (22.12.2006) |
| Current club | Bournemouth |
| Club division | English 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 92.7 (1st globally) |
| Current playing status | Not playing |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
Many had high hopes for McKenna after his Queen’s Park performances earned him a move to Bournemouth. However, he hasn’t appeared on any stats sites we look at since November. Nor is McKenna in any of the Scotland age group squads named this month. Latest U21 squad members such as Liam McFarlane & Rory Mahady currently have better visibility than McKenna.
Latest update
No change.
18. Jon McLaughlin
| Age | 39 (09.09.1987) |
| Current club | Middlesbrough |
| Club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 81.1 (10th globally) |
| Current playing status | 3rd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
The 2 cap ex-internationalist made the Boro bench for their opening league game on 7 August v Wrexham. He has not been in a match day squad since.
Latest update
No change. McLaughlin didn’t make the match day squad for Boro’s 1-0 home win at the weekend against Wolves.
19. Ross Sinclair
| Age | 25 (07.05.2001) |
| Current club | St Johnstone |
| Club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 75.2 (39th globally) |
| Current playing status | 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
Sinclair played for St Mirren late last season in an emergency loan. He is a permanent fixture on the St Johnstone bench so far this season. Sinclair is an ex-U21 internationalist.
Latest update
No change. Sinclair was on the bench for Saints’ 1-0 win at Aberdeen at the weekend.
20. Cieran Slicker
| Age | 24 (15.09.2002) |
| Current club | Barnsley (on loan from Ipswich Town) |
| Club division | English 3rd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.7 (43rd globally) |
| Current playing status | Injured |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
One cap Slicker is yet to play for Barnsley since his loan there started in the Summer. He played regularly last season on loan at Barnet, a division below that of his current club.
Latest update
No change. Barnsley boss, Daniel Stendel, stated on 8 October:
“He (Slicker) has not trained with the team until now, but he’s on the (training) pitch and we hope in the next two or three weeks he’s back in the team.”
21. Jason Steele
| Age | 36 (18.08.1990) |
| Current club | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Club division | English 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 92.7 (1st globally) |
| Current playing status | 2nd choice |
| In latest Scotland squad? | No |
September update
Jason Steele isn’t the highest rated GK in the traditional shot stopping sense. He is though highly regarded in the modern GK style with the ball at his feet. Press reports in 2023 indicated Steele declined when sounded out about representing Scotland. Subsequently, Tam Tuchel called him up for the expanded 35 man England squad in March this year, & then took him to the World Cup as a training GK. That was in addition to those in the official 26 player England squad.
Despite continuing to understudy Bart Verbruggen & featuring only in domestic cup games, Tuchel again called up Steele to his squad this month. That was to replace the injured Dean Henderson. There is zero apparent prospect of 36-year-old Steele switching to Scotland (no hard feelings Jason). He & Gunn are the only 2 GKs in this list with experience of playing in any of the world’s ‘big 5’ divisions. Ironically if Verbruggen injures & Steele plays in the EPL for the Brighton first team, Steele would play in easily the highest Opta ranked division of any current Scotland eligible GK.
Latest update
Steele was on the bench in all 4 England games in the recent international break. However & similar to Brady, Steele technically retains Scotland eligibility until he plays for another nation in a competitive game. However & like Brady, don’t hold your breath for the prospect of Steele switching to join the ranks of Scottish goalkeepers.
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