A SLOT IN THE DARK

Clarke not concerned if Reds boss not giving Robbo much game time

- BY KEITH JACKSON

HIS captain is being phased out at Liverpool even though everyone apart from Arne Slot thinks it's a retrograde step.

And his young teenage talisman, having been allowed to leave Anfield by the Dutchman, is restricted to the odd cameo role offthe bench at Bournemouth.

Steve Clarke would have been fooling no one yesterday if the Scotland boss had claimed not to be a bit concerned by the potential consequences of Arne’s Anfield axe-wielding.

Concerned? A little bit. Certainly enough to hold a heart-to-heart with Andy Robertson last week — a followup to an initial conversation in the summer when it became obvious that new recruit Milos Kerkez was being fitted up for his first-team shirt.

And also enough for Clarke to admit the bruised confidence of youngster Ben Gannon Doak might need a gentle massage when he turns up at Scotland's camp next week to prepare for a crucial World Cup doubleheader against Greece and Belarus.

Such is life for the national coach who, no matter what collateral damage might come his way, has to keep his own squad on track towards next summer.

The good thing is, he’s been in this movie plenty of times before. And he’s wise enough to have seen them all coming from a mile off.

Clarke named a 23-strong group as the clock ticks down to a potentially campaign-defining, international break. And the inclusions of Robertson and Gannon Doak were never in any doubt.