Scotland vs. Japan team news: Steve Clarke names starting lineup for Hampden Park friendly

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has made a number of changes to his starting lineup for Saturday's international friendly against Japan.

With a place at the 2026 World Cup secured, Clarke has opted to tinker with all areas of his squad, with goalkeeper Angus Gunn being named between the sticks.

Everton defender Nathan Patterson gets a start at right-back, while Jack Hendry is brought into the middle of the defence.

Kenny McLean - the halfway-line hero from the 4-2 win over Denmark - starts in midfield, with Tommy Conway the last of five alterations made by Clarke.

Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey, Grant Hanley, Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak are the five players to drop out of the team.

Conway being included alongside Lyndon Dykes appears to suggest that the Tartan Army will line up with a 4-4-2 formation for the fixture at Hampden Park.

© Imago / AFLOSPORT

Japan rest star players for Glasgow game

Meanwhile, Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu has opted to rest a number of his star players for the game in Glasgow.

Kaoru Mitoma and Ritsu Doan are among the creative players that have been left on the substitutes' bench.

However, there is a familiar face of Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda, who is seemingly in line to feature at left wing-back or further down that flank.

Keisuke Goto earns just his third cap as the centre-forward in a 3-4-2-1 formation, while Kodai Sano makes just his second outing for the Blue Samurai.

Nevertheless, Bayern Munich star Hiroki Ito takes his place in defence.

Scotland XI: Gunn: Patterson, Hendry, McKenna, Robertson; Ferguson, McLean, McGinn, McTominay; Dykes, Conway

Subs: Kelly, Bain, Hanley, Tierney, Gilmour, Adams, Christie, Miller, Souttar, McCrorie, Hyam, Hirst, Ralston, Irving, Curtis

Japan XI: Z.Suzuki; Seko, Watanabe, Ito; Sugawara, Fujita, Tanaka, Maeda; Y.Suzuki, Sano; Goto

Subs: Doan, Hashioka, Hayakawa, J.Ito, Kamada, Machino, Mitoma, Nakamura, Ogawa, Osako, K.Sano, Shiogai, Taniguchi, Ueda