Steve Clarke says the hardest part of picking his Scotland team for Monday’s Euro 2020 Group D opener against Czech Republic at Hampden will be leaving three players out of the matchday squad.

The Scotland boss is only permitted to name 12 substitutes, meaning that a trio from his tight-knit pool of 26 will be left unstripped in the stand, unable to take part.

Clarke has almost settled on his starting XI, with only one position causing him debate, as Scotland look to make the best possible start to their group campaign that also includes Croatia and England, who face each other on Sunday afternoon at Wembley. However, he admits to having far more trouble deciding which players to leave out altogether.

“I've picked my team except for one position,” said Clarke, “but I'm pretty sure which way I'll go with it.

“The players won't know until the day of the game. “But the more perceptive ones might work it out.

“The way I've worked is that I tell them in the morning. That gives them the afternoon to rest in their rooms and prepare mentally for it.

“For the ones who aren't selected, they prepare to be ready to be part of the squad. So everyone is together when we hit the dressing-room.

Steve Clarke: My hardest Scotland Euro 2020 calls will be telling those three players news they don't want to hear