Rangers star Ryan Jack has spoken out about his form and Scotland prospects, as quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times.
The 27-year-old midfielder is in Steve Clarke’s squad for the final two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Kazakhstan.
He’s been around the camp for some time now but has earned just two international caps, with minor issues ruling him out of playing contention on more than one occasion.
At club level, he’s been taking his game up a notch in recent times and was in supreme form heading into this international window.
Yet, remarkably, he still could still struggle to get a start.
“There’s great quality throughout the squad, so it’s tough,” he admitted, as quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times. “But you want to play for your country and I’ve said before that you want to come away and work hard.”
“You want to show the manager you want to be here and play a part going forward.”
“I would say [it’s the best I’ve ever played],” Jack continued. “I’ve said before I’m playing with a good group of players at my club and that helps. We’ve got a very good staff at Rangers and everything’s going well. I’m in a good place.”
Verdict
It seems remarkable that Jack, a player who is excelling in a Rangers team taking on all comers both in domestic and European competition, is struggling for a spot in an ailing Scotland team.
Sure, there are players with pedigree who have been ahead of him in the pecking order.
Scott McTominay has pulled out of this squad due to injury, but the likes of Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, John McGinn and Stuart Armstrong are all still there competing for limited spots.
Yet, what sense is there in sticking with what has failed in the recent past. Jack wasn’t involved in any of the four defeats at the hands of Russia or Belgium.
What’s more, he’s raring to and eager to prove himself to those who continue to question his abilities.
These upcoming games are qualifiers, yes, but the results mean next to nothing to a Scotland team whose hopes now rest entirely on the Nations League. Therefore, it’s time for Steve Clarke to try something different.
Reward one of the Premiership’s standout domestic performers and give him a genuine opportunity to try to replicate his club form, at international level.
