Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports , former Rangers and Scotland defender Alan Hutton hails the job Steve Clarke has done at Scotland but identifies David Moyes as another long-term option for the role.
Hutton also argues that Manchester United made a mistake in selling McTominay and his redemption at Napoli, while also discussing if Lewis Ferguson is suited to the Premier League and how Robertson may handle the Kerkez Liverpool links.
Steve Clarke's Scotland Turnaround
What Steve Clarke's done for the national team has been outstanding, to be quite honest with you, before that, it was a real struggle. So since he's come in, he's turned things around, qualifying for major tournaments, that's the main aim for Scotland, and they've managed to do that.
He's got a really good crop of players. I feel this is probably the last one. I think his contract runs out after the World Cup. Look, you have to wait and see how the qualifiers go.
If it doesn't go to plan, they might very well make a change. But I think he'll be given that opportunity to get the team to the World Cup and then take them on if they qualify. Again, he spoke about it himself, that he isn't sure if he would sign further than the World Cup. I can't see it myself. I think he has probably taken the team to the level that he can.
So it'll be an interesting kind of development in future for the team to see what direction they go in. I must say he's done an outstanding job.
Moyes For Scotland Role?
Will David Moyes one day manage Scotland? I feel it's something that he would love to do. He's been an outstanding manager for a number of years.
He's gone back into Everton and really settled the ship and kind of pushed them on. They're going into the new stadium at the new season. It's probably something that he wants to be involved with. But I think in the near future, it's something that's probably in the back of his mind.
He fancies the Scotland job, and he probably feels that it can maybe take them to the next level with the players that they have got.
Again, it'll be an interesting one. Steve Clarke's in charge at this moment for the next campaign. After that, they might look to somebody, especially with the experience that David Moyes has got playing with, obviously, dealing with big players and big clubs. It's something that I feel that he could handle, no problem.
Manchester United’s McTominay “Mistake”
Scott McTominay has been absolutely brilliant, and I think they've made a massive clanger in letting him go, to be quite honest with you.
When he was at Manchester United, he came in, I thought he'd done really well. Then, when he came away with Scotland, he was scoring a barrel load of goals, showing they could play higher up the pitch, and he was really developing into a real strong strong player.
I don't know why Manchester United let him go. He's just proved them wrong by going to Napoli, scoring the goals that he has, being one of their best players.
Do I see him back in the Premier League? Probably at one stage, but I think at this moment in time, he looks really happy where he is, and it wouldn't surprise me if he kept on in Italy and stayed there or stayed in European football. It really suits him.
He's a powerful runner. He knows where the back of the goal is, and I think he's done brilliantly so far. So, big mistake from Manchester United in my opinion.
McTominay’s Napoli Redemption
Scott McTominay’s personality probably had a little chip on his shoulder when he had to leave, in a sense of I'll go and show you that I was more than capable of playing here, that rejection has almost just pushed him to the next level.
I think sometimes, as a player, you need that. It's all about how you take these kinds of disappointments and keep moving forward. It was probably disappointing for him to leave Manchester United after being there for so long. But he said, I'll go and prove everybody wrong, and he's done exactly that. I think he's been outstanding since he's left.
He went to the next level and there must be a lot of Manchester United fans sitting there thinking he could have been in our team right at this moment in midfield getting forward scoring goals and it's not to be so fair play to him to take that challenge on and move on and go and thrive somewhere else.
Lewis Ferguson To The Premier League?
I think there'll be Premier League teams monitoring the situation of Lewis Ferguson. Again, I think Rangers missed out in allowing him to go over to Italy because, again, he's done extremely well.
He can play in a number of positions, midfield, number 10, can play a little bit higher up the pitch, and I think over in Europe is somewhere where again, he's thriving.
At this moment in time, I don't feel any need to rush back unless there was a concrete offer. I think there'll be teams, probably over in Italy and probably Europe in general, that are monitoring him moving forward.
He looks happy. I think he's happy with us at this moment in time. But in terms of the Premier League, you kind of just have to wait and see who the team is. You want to play at the highest level possible. You don't want to be fighting a relegation battle, for example. So we'll just have to wait and see.
Robertson vs Kerkez
As a fullback, when somebody comes in in your position, it's always a little bit of a worry, but it's how you take that on. You need to take on the challenge. Andy Roberson he's 31 now. He's still got a lot of football left in him, and he's still got a lot to give, especially at Liverpool.
But you have to look to the future. You have to have competition at these big clubs. Every player pushes each other to be in the starting eleven, especially when you're competing on all fronts. So that's normal for a big team.
It's how you take that challenge on. I know him well. I think he'll thrive off that. It'll push him to do better; he's probably not got the numbers that he has in the past, but he's still more than capable for me.
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