Steve Clarke targets all-time Scotland record as he doubles down on his World Cup dream

Determined Steve Clarke insists he needs no extra motivation to take Scotland to the World Cup as he prepares to move clear of Jock Stein and Andy Roxburgh in games in charge of the national team.

Tuesday's Nations League clash with Portugal at Hampden will be the 61-year-old’s 62nd match in the dug out with only Craig Brown on 72 games having managed more. But pressure is building on the man who has been at the helm for over five years and who has delivered back to back qualifications for European Championship finals.

A poor showing in Germany in the summer comes amid a run of one win in 15 games - and that in a friendly against the minnows of Gibraltar. It doesn’t get any easier with Cristiano Ronaldo and co arriving in Glasgow for the fourth Nations League tie in League A with Scotland having lost all three so far. But Clarke - whose contract runs out after the World Cup qualifying cycle - insists he is determined to end the 28-year wait to reach the greatest football show on earth.

Doing so would take him clear of the late, great Brown as Scotland's longest serving boss in terms of games managed. And he firmly believes the current group of players will get us there. Asked how he felt about moving clear of the legendary Stein and Roxburgh, he said: “I didn't know. Proud, obviously, to be mentioned in the same breath as people like Mr Stein and Mr Roxburgh, who still sends me the occasional email just to keep in touch.

“No, listen, it's really good. It shows you that the players have been fantastic for us over the last five and a half years of my reign as head coach. I’d like to add a few more to the number, if I could. I want to go to the World Cup. I believe this squad of players are good enough to go to the World