Scotland v Ukraine: Steve Clarke on the ‘signings’ making his Scots better as World Cup hoves into view

The game many thought might never happen is now just around the corner and fans are advised to expect a nerve-shredding affair.

The prolonged wait certainly hasn’t helped alleviate tension. Scotland clinched a play-off place as long ago as November 12 and learned who they would play later that same month.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February meant the originally scheduled date of March 24 saw the Scots play Poland in a friendly instead. The World Cup is drawing ever closer, but Clarke’s side are no nearer securing their place. The situation is set to become clearer late on Wednesday night.

Scotland will either stand a win against Wales away from a first appearance at a World Cup finals since 1998 or they will face a further wait of at least four years to scratch an intensely felt itch.

Everything hinges on what happens against Ukraine, who have been preparing for the fixture in Slovenia. A group of 21 players have been based at the National Football Centre in Brdo where they have been put through their paces. Many of them have not played any club football for months.

Clarke will have to decide whether to go out all guns blazing against a team that will be severely under-cooked or else adopt a more cautious approach in anticipation of what could be a long, anxious night. He's not buying the narrative that Ukraine are underdogs with little going for them in the context of this game except the backing of almost every neutral.

“These players are top class,” warned Clarke. “Don't be fooled. Maybe you don't recognise the names or know the level of Ukrainian football but they are always involved at a very good level.

“By the very nature of playoff games they tend to be quite cautious affairs,” he added. “Think back to