Butland overlooked for England squad selection
Despite his impressive performances for Rangers this season, goalkeeper Jack Butland will have to bide his time for an England call-up as he was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. Speculation had suggested that the 31-year-old might feature in the double-header later this month, but Southgate ultimately opted for Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, and Sam Johnstone instead.
Aberdeen disappointed over Scottish Cup ticket allocation
Aberdeen expressed disappointment over their ticket allocation for the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic, as their offer to return unsold tickets was rejected. The Dons received 19,000 tickets for their clash at Hampden Park, while Hearts will have an initial allocation of 21,000 tickets for their match against Rangers. Despite both underdogs requesting a 50-50 split, Aberdeen’s proposal was turned down, citing historical ticket sales patterns. In contrast, Hearts were pleased with the decision, as they successfully argued for an equal allocation of tickets with Rangers.
Kingsley encouraged to pursue Scotland Euros squad spot
Despite missing out on the latest Scotland squad, Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley has been urged by Steven Naismith not to give up on his hopes of earning more national team caps. While Kingsley’s teammates Lawrence Shankland, Zander Clark, and Craig Gordon made the cut for the upcoming friendlies against Netherlands and Northern Ireland, Kingsley’s recent form has kept him in consideration by manager Steve Clarke. Naismith highlighted Kingsley’s previous involvement with the national team and encouraged him to continue striving for a spot in the squad.
The entire Scotland squad has shown significant improvement since the last time he selected them in 2022, giving him some credit for his previous selections given the tough competition. Despite the abundance of left-sided players, Stephen’s versatility sets him apart. Securing a spot in the Euros squad will be a challenging task, but his determination is unwavering.
Ahead of their clash with St Mirren, Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes urges both his players and fans to embrace the high-stakes encounter. The upcoming match holds importance as Killie trail St Mirren by just one point in the cinch Premiership standings, with both teams vying for a top-six finish. With four games left before the split, Kilmarnock sit six points clear of seventh-placed Hibernian, setting the stage for a potential race for European qualification if they maintain their current form. Reflecting on the opportunity against St Mirren, McInnes highlighted the importance of securing a win against a direct competitor to cement their position in the top six.
