Scotland Men's Football Team

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Aston Villa's underperforming stars know the "magnitude" of their Europa League showdown with Lille, according to captain John McGinn.

Unai Emery's side hold a 1-0 first-leg lead in their last-16 tie before the return game at Villa Park on Thursday.

Their season could hinge on European success - and ending a 30-year trophy drought - after their Premier League form plummeted this year.

They are clinging on to fourth in the table following two wins in 10 league games.

"We know it's an important game, probably slightly more important because of the recent results, so the dressing room knows the magnitude of the game," said McGinn.

"We had a much larger gap [over Champions League rivals], now Manchester United have picked up, Chelsea, Liverpool are indifferent like ourselves.

"There are teams in better form but what we've shown is we have the capability to put some momentum together.

"This is no different. One thing that needs to improve is our home form.

"When you're talking about confidence, we went through a similar spell already this season in August and September, and it doesn't just flick on overnight, it's gradual.

"We won against Bologna, against Fulham, with performances that weren't pretty but it got confidence back up and that's exactly what we need to do again."

Scotland international McGinn has returned after missing 10 games with a knee injury, coming on as a second-half substitute in Lille last week.

He is the first of Villa's sidelined midfield trio to come back with Youri Tielemans still out with an ankle problem and Boubacar Kamara out until next season with a knee injury.

"When you're out injured and the results don't go so well you automatically become this superior player and you're the reason why things aren't going well," he said.

"There's many reasons why things haven't been going well but when you lose three of your midfield most teams in the country would struggle.

"I certainly feel the expectation and the pressure to remind the players of what it takes to play for Aston Villa.

"It's a demanding club to play for. When you set standards, you're expected to meet them again. When you fall short of that, you'll get criticism."

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Scotland captain Andy Robertson, 32, shut down talk about his Liverpool future, saying on Tuesday: "I don't think the day is the day to discuss that." (Sun), external

Liverpool's former Scotland midfielder Richard Hughes is on a three-strong shortlist to become the new sporting director at Saudi Pro-League club Al-Hilal. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

The Scottish FA will not be rushed into offering national coach Steve Clarke a new contract. (Sun), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Scotland's squad for their two upcoming friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast.

Here's what some of you said:

Shanade: It's criminal there's no Hearts players considering they're top of the league. Especially Harry Milne, he has been outstanding this season.

Cal: Surprised to see Findlay Curtis in the squad as it's a bit of a leftfield shout but not against it. Was hoping Stephen O'Donnell would get a call-up ahead of Anthony Ralston. Good to see Tommy Conway back in the squad.

Nigel: Poor squad choices. I agree with Curtis but why no Craig Halkett or Milne in the squad. It's a friendly after all and they have to be worth looking at. When did Grant Hanley or Ralston last start or play 90 minutes?

David: Unbelievable no Hearts or Motherwell players included. Surely these games are times to look at alternatives rather than the same old like Hanley and Ralston.

Ross: Get Barney Stewart in, on the crest of a wave, one of top scoring Scottish strikers around at the moment. Will move in the summer for a big sum, let's not regret it four years down the line until the next World Cup to see what could have been this time round had we taken a chance.

Danny: I'm not against new players being picked for the friendlies. Imagine Steve Clarke is covering bases and looking for extra bodies for the World Cup. Not a bad thing to freshen things up.

Greg: What is the point in playing friendly games if you stick with guys like Hanley? Not good enough for the Championship in England but good enough for the World Cup with Scotland, according to Clarke. His stubborn belief in a third-rate defender will come back to bite him and Scottish chances of progressing.

Derek: Not quite sure why Curtis is seen as such a surprise inclusion. We've been crying out for width for a long time, and are too reliant on Ben Gannon-Doak to provide it. Admittedly I'm a Kilmarnock season-ticket holder so slightly biased - but he's a guy that's going to play for Scotland, whether now or a couple of years from now - the smart move is to get him acclimatised.

Lewis: I am delighted to see Curtis in this squad. In the last campaign we had a serious lack of pace with Gannon-Doak as our only winger. Curtis' pace and direct style of play will give us a much-needed wide option and allow us to hit teams on the counter - which might be crucial this summer.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media after naming his squad for Scotland's upcoming friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast.

Here are the key lines:

• Clarke says there are still "players I feel I need to have a look at" in his current selection for this month's matches.

• Regarding his squad, the Scotland boss adds that "a lot can change in the final 10 weeks" before the World Cup kicks off in the summer.

• Clarke also believes there has been a "natural evolution" to his group.

• Kilmarnock winger Findlay Curtis, who is on loan from Rangers, is a surprise inclusion in Clarke's set-up and he says he feels the youngster is "direct" and "tries to make things happen".

• The head coach watched the 19-year-old star in Kilmarnock's impressive victory against Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts on Saturday night and "thought he was decent" in the game.

• Clarke also revealed the squad will use Fort Lauderdale in Florida as a pre-World Cup base before they move to their main one in Charlotte.

• The 62-year-old is keen to see "how we stand on the world stage" when the Scots side get to the US.

Teenage Kilmarnock winger Findlay Curtis is a surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for two friendly matches later this month.

Scotland host Japan at Hampden on Saturday 28 March before taking on Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday 31 March.

Wrexham centre-back Dominic Hyam and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway have also been recalled to join an otherwise settled squad.

Everton right-back Nathan Patterson is also included having played no part in Scotland's successful World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn because of injury.

Napoli's Billy Gilmour is back after missing the last camp through injury, while his club team-mate Scott McTominay and Aston Villa's John McGinn are both in as expected after recently returning to action.

Send us your thoughts on the squad.

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Scott McTominay made his return from injury, but it was fellow Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour who inspired reigning champions Napoli's comeback to beat Lecce 2-1 in Serie A.

The 24-year-old, who was making his second start after himself sitting out three months with a groin problem, played a superb defence-splitting pass to set up his side's equaliser shortly after the break on Saturday evening.

It found Matteo Politano free on the wing and his low cross was prodded home by Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund.

With McTominay, missing for a month with tendon inflammation, on the bench along with fit-again former Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli fell behind within three minutes as Jamil Siebert rose to head in from a corner for the 16th-placed visitors.

However, with McTominay and De Bruyne on at half-time, the comeback was complete when winger Politano volleyed the winner that revives Napoli's hopes of retaining the title.

With Internazionale held to a 1-1 draw at home to Atalanta, the Scots' third-placed side are nine points behind, with AC Milan one point better off than Napoli before playing Lazio on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Scotland midfielder Lennon Miller was a 67th-minute substitute as 11th-placed Udinese lost 1-0 at home to fourth-top Juventus.

In England, Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean scored Norwich City's second goal in a 2-0 win over Preston North End as the Canaries leapfrogged the visitors into 11th place in the Championship.

Hong Kong-born Queens Park Rangers winger Daniel Bennie, the 19-year-old who has played for Australia at youth level, has not given up hope of forcing his way into Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for this summer's World Cup finals. (The Times), external

Haiti head coach Sebastian Migne admits he is struggling to convince Lens striker Odsonne Edouard to switch his allegiances and play for the Caribbean nation in their World Cup opener against Scotland as the 28-year-old former Celtic player still dreams of a first senior cap for France. (Daily Record), external

Scotland fans have scored a World Cup win over England by applying for more tickets for this summer's football spectacular, making 36,000 bids for briefs - 1,000 more than their counterparts. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay does not want to leave the Serie A club amid reported interest in the Scotland international from Manchester United, according to sporting director Giovanni Manna, who claims they have had no approaches for the 29-year-old. (Sportmediaset), external

Football fans will be able to buy alcohol at Hampden Park ahead of Scotland's upcoming World Cup warm-up matches. (The Herald), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Tottenham Hotspur are still keen to sign Scotland left-back Andy Robertson despite their failed attempt in January, with Liverpool having decided to let the veteran control his own destiny when the 31-year-old's contract expires this summer. (Football Insider), external

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie aims to land a Scotland recall for this summer's World Cup finals as the 29-year-old tells a nation he is a changed man. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Napoli want to extend the contract of Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay until 2030 in a bid to ward off any interest in the 29-year-old this summer. (Il Mattino - in Italian - subscription required), external

Kieron Bowie says he could not turn down the opportunity to play in "a top-five league" when leaving Hibernian for Hellas Verona in January and the striker hopes his winning goal against Bologna on Sunday can help win him a return to the Scotland squad. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean was brought to tears after being presented with a video to mark his 300th Norwich City appearance. (Sun), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Napoli hope to move quickly to secure the long-term future of Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 29, amid interest from the Premier League. (Goal), external

Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour completed 90 of 98 passes as he made his first start since October in Napoli's 2-1 Serie A win over Torino on Friday. (The Scotsman), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has revealed that Scott McTominay has yet to return to training despite reports suggesting the Scotland midfielder could be ready to face Torino on Friday as the 29-year-old's inflammation issue continues to be a concern. (The Scotsman), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.