Injury to £50m-rated Euro 2024 star could now hand Rangers hero chance to shine
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Rangers stars have found opportunities limited with the Scotland national team under controversial manager Steve Clarke in recent matches.
Indeed there wasn't even a single Rangers player in the Scotland number at this summer's disastrous Tartan Army stint at Euro 2024 with Germany.
But with a couple of names making waves at Ibrox in the first part of the season, there's a growing feeling that Steve Clarke could soon struggle to ignore his options at Rangers.
Injury looks set to hand John Souttar another chance with Scotland ahead of the UEFA Nations League clashes against Croatia (A) and Portugal (H).
But news of a fresh problem to one £50m-rated Premier League star could also be set to hand a rookie Rangers hero a sight of his first Scotland cap.
Connor Barron states Scotland case at Rangers
Connor Barron has been one of the biggest success stories of an eventful summer at Rangers.
Plenty has been made about the overhaul of the Ibrox squad which saw 16 first-team players leave the club and 11 younger, fresher names come in to replace them.
Amongst them is 22-year-old midfielder Barron, who has made John Lundstram's midfield berth his own ever since walking in through the doors at Ibrox.
Starting all but one of this season's games under Philippe Clement, the progress has been evident for Connor Barron after his summer switch from Aberdeen.
The Gers and the Dons are also still yet to agree a fee over the pre-contract signing of Barron, with the lingering threat of a tribunal hanging over the deal.
But with Barron one of Rangers' most prominent players this campaign, injury could be about to hand the midfielder his second call-up to the Scotland squad.
And potentially his first cap.
Premier League star to miss Scotland double-header
Scotland manager Steve Clarke initially overlooked Scotland U21 international Connor Barron in his last national team squad.
But when no fewer than four Scotland stars withdrew from the squad, Barron earned his maiden call-up if not his maiden cap in defeats to Poland and then Portugal.
Injury is again threatening to disrupt Steve Clarke's Scotland hopes this time around too, with once £50m-rated Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn set to miss out on the squad.
The midfielder has a hamstring problem and according to BBC Sport will miss the upcoming double-header.
McGinn earned the money spinning price tag in the Scottish Sun amid links to Manchester United back in late 2021 and since then has emerged as the poster boy of Steve Clarke's Scotland team.
The injury hands Connor Barron a perfect opportunity to earn a recall, with Scotland also without Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson following a cruciate ligament injury last season.
Throw in the fact that Celtic captain Callum McGregor retired from international football in the summer and suddenly there is an opening for the Rangers midfielder to step in to.
Should Barron get the call, the Rangers midfielder will have to compete with some big talents however.
Napoli pair Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay are two of Scotland's first names on the teamsheet, whilst Norwich midfielder Kenny McLean is a regular at this level.
