Why Scotland boss Steve Clarke must avoid Scott Arfield 2.0 situation with ex Rangers striker turned Euro poacher
Prolific IK Sirius frontman could find himself at the centre of an international tug-of-war in the coming months amid intense transfer interest
As Scotland gear up for their long-awaited return to a World Cup finals, head coach Steve Clarke will be mulling over which players to include in his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament in North America.
On paper, the former Kilmarnock boss is likely to have at least 18 or 19 names settled in his mind who are guaranteed a seat on the plane to the USA, but there are still question marks over a couple of positions. And there also remains the possibility of one or two wildcards entering into his thought process late in the day.
For over three decades, the Scots have faced an ongoing struggle to produce top quality strikers due to a combination of outdated grassroots coaching, sub-standard training facilities, and a distinct lack of technical development compared to other European leagues.
Modern coaching methods and high-intensity, technical training sessions are often replaced by a greater focus on a physical, direct style of training, which has led top clubs such as Celtic and Rangers to sign a foreign option rather than developing their own talent.
Steve Clarke unlikely to stray from tried-and-tested system
The Tartan Army can often be viewed as “turning on” Scotland’s strikers due to a reliance on them fitting into a specific system, which under Clarke has been centred around defensive stability and controlled, counter-pressing football rather than high-volume goal scoring.
It’s an approach that has served the likes of regular squad members Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes well in recent years, with Clarke occasionally overlooking in-form alternatives by opting to stick with those who he has been loyal towards previously.
Take Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland for example - a player who has consistently displayed strong form at club level but has been unable to displace the more established, trusted choices in the national set-up.
Some critics will argue that the team’s lack of creativity in midfield can hinder whoever is leading the line. The strikers are often seen to be performing a ‘thankless task’ within the team's overall defensive structure.
Clarke’s system demands that his chosen striker is pressing the opposition high and defending from the front rather than a specific focus on scoring goals. He’s unlikely to deviate away from a system that has resulted in the nation qualifying for three major tournaments in the last five years.
In saying that, Scotland failed to win a single game at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament and most recently at Euro 2024 in Germany. Scoring goals remains a huge problem.
Now, the country are back in the spotlight on the biggest stage in international football for the first time since 1998. It’s been a long wait... but the World Cup is the pinnacle. The holy grail. For any aspiring footballer, the dream is always to represent your country at a World Cup.
Time to integrate fresh blood into senior set-up
The current debate among supporters is around how many attacking options Clarke will take with him to the Americas. Given how long it has been since Scotland were able to call upon a prolific marksman, the time could be now for Clarke to throw the dice and take a closer look at a few different options during the March window - a friendly double-header against Japan and Ivory Coast.
With uncertainty surrounding his future in the role beyond the summer, a conversation is likely to take place with the Scottish FA sooner rather than later. One thing is for sure, the nation must start looking to the future.
It’s for that reason the Tartan Army and Clarke can ill-afford to turn their noses up at a centre-forward who is currently scoring goals for fun on a regular basis out with the UK.
Enter Robbie Ure. Remember the name, Rangers fans?
Ure is a highly-rated former Ibrox youth starlet, who scored on his debut in a cup tie against Queen of the South, but later decided to turn down the offer of a contract extension in the summer of 2023 to try his hand at European football.
It was a brave decision to make for a player at such an early stage in his career who grew up dreaming of one day starring for his boyhood heroes. The 21-year-old felt his first-team opportunities in Glasgow would remain limited and his talent be better served elsewhere, despite being on the fringes for a few seasons and breaking through somewhat briefly towards the latter stages of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s reign.
In order to progress his career, Ure took the decision to move abroad and is now making a real name for himself 1,600 miles from Govan. He initially left for Belgian giants Anderlecht and starred for the club’s ‘RSCA Futures’ academy team, who played in the country’s second-tier Challenger Pro League.
Robbie Ure must be considered for maiden call-up
He spent two impressive seasons with the Brussels-based club, eventually forcing his way into the senior fold before Swedish outfit IK Sirius came calling in March 2025. Ure became the club’s record signing for 8m Krona (around £620,000) and has since gone on to elevate his game to a new level as he continues to embark on his own journey to the top.
Having signed a four-year contract, Ure wasted no time in paying back that fee as he managed to maintain his impressive form in front of goal by netting 11 times in 30 appearances during his debut season in the Allsvenskan. In total, he bagged 18 goals and contributed six assists in 53 outings across all competitions.
Ure knows all about dealing with expectations from his time at Rangers and it appears he doesn’t seem to feel the pressure when is comes to his considerable price tag.
Speaking last summer, he admitted: “I can’t control it (the transfer fee). What’s important to me is to get chances. It’s a new club and a new country. I don’t put any pressure on myself, I just try to develop every day and have a good relationship with the coach and my teammates. I can’t control anything expect how I play and that’s how I think about it.”
Develop he has at a rate of knots, so much so that his impact on the continent hasn’t gone unnoticed as he continues to attract a growing list of suitors from across Europe. Yet nothing seems to phase him.
According to recent reports, his club in Sweden have rejected several offers for his services since their domestic season ended, with Ukrainian side Polissya Zhytomyr the latest to have had a £1.3m bid turned down.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly have recently expressed an interest, while Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg are also understood to be big admirers of the in-demand frontman. Having already stepped into uncharted territory, Ure’s next move could be an intriguing one.
SFA must avoid familiar Scott Arfield scenario
For the time being, though, there’s a potential dilemma facing national team boss Clarke and the SFA in the not to distant future. Ure, who was capped five times for Scotland at under-19 level and scored twice, is rumoured to be going through the process of gaining a Ukrainian passport, whom he qualifies to represent through his grandfather.
It’s an ominous early sign for those of a Scottish persuasion. Clarke and Co will need to act fast if they want to avoid missing out on another rising star of the future. If Ure has still expressed a desire to represent the country of his birth, now is the time to get him integrated into his squad.
On current form and given the situation, there is probably no better time for Clarke to hand him a maiden call-up and some valuable minutes during the two warm-up games in March against strong opposition. After all, it’s an area of the pitch where Scotland are crying out for more quality.
Standing at 6ft 2’ tall, Ure brings an imposing, physical presence to the table. Known for his aerial ability, hold-up play and finishing prowess, the ex-Light Blues academy product could potentially offer something different to the options currently at Clarke’s disposal.
It’s hard to envisage Dykes, Adams and Shankland not already rubber-stamping their spot on the plane, but there could be another one - potentially two - places up for grabs in the forward department. Of the others expected to be under consideration, Kieron Bowie, Tommy Conway and George Hirst all played a part in the qualification campaign.
However, Ure could be an outside bet to force his way into the reckoning. That is providing the SFA avoid a scenario similar to that of Scott Arfield, who was capped at various age groups but later overlooked on several occasions by Gordon Strachan at the peak of his career in the English Premier League with Burnley.
Arfield eventually decided to switch allegiance to Canada - the country of his father’s birth - in 2016 and went on to earn 19 caps over a three-year spell, scoring two goals in the process.
At the time, Scotland’s loss was very much ‘the Canucks’ gain. Fast forward a decade later, the SFA have another big decision to make on Ure: Reward him in March for his big breakthrough campaign, or run the risk of him being snaffled by Ukraine and letting another attacker slip through their grasp.
Time will tell if Ure is the answer to Scotland’s desperate search for a top goalscorer. Without some game time, we’ll never know. But with a first appearance at a World Cup finals in 28 years looming, it might be time for Clarke to take a gamble on an exciting young prospect who could just be the solution we’ve been waiting to acclaim.