Scotland Men's Football Team

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Goalkeeper Scott Bain is flourishing for Falkirk this season - but admits his "dream" of making Scotland's World Cup squad is never far from his thoughts.

Bain, who won the last of his three caps in 2019, earned a squad recall from Steve Clarke for the final two qualifiers against Greece and Denmark last November as Scotland secured a place at this summer's North America extravaganza.

Clarke will soon name his squad for friendly matches with Japan (28 March) and Ivory Coast (31 March).

"I'm really hopeful," Bain said before Falkirk's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee United on Friday, which is live on BBC Scotland.

"I've really been working from the last squad to this squad to try and make sure that I can get in there and we'll see if I've managed to do enough.

"My hope was going in the last squad to really give a good account of myself to the manager and to the staff and show my qualities when I was away.

"I hope with that and the games between then and now that my performances have been good enough to make myself back into the squad."

As well as the Bairns' Scottish Cup ambitions, Bain is also part of Falkirk's push for a top-six finish in their first season back in the Premiership.

"I mean, it's always there in the back of your mind but like I say, I just need to focus here," he added.

"If I do manage to go away with Scotland in the next camp, give myself the best platform to give myself the best chance to be on that plane, it would be a dream, yeah, of course."

Manchester United are considering re-signing Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay for £70m in the summer, with Napoli willing to cash in on the 29-year-old just two years after he joined the Italian club from Old Trafford. (Fichajes), external

Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers are among the clubs interested in signing Scotland left-back Andy Robertson should the 31-year-old leave Liverpool this summer. (Caught Offside), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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The Tartan Army is facing a ban over sporrans at this summer's World Cup finals in the United States as current rules dictate only bags measuring no more than 6½ x 4½ inches - half the size of Scotland's national garb - are allowed in the venues where Scotland will play in June. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Paul McGinn is backing Motherwell defensive partner Stephen Welsh to play his way into Scotland's World Cup squad. (Scottish Sun), external

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Billy Gilmour has given Scotland head coach Steve Clarke a welcome boost for the March friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast by making his Napoli comeback in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Roma.

The 24-year-old midfielder was missing for three-and-a-half months after surgery on the groin problem that caused him to miss the final round of qualifying games as Scotland clinched a place at this summer's World Cup.

Gilmour came off the bench on 79 minutes at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the hosts trailing 2-1.

He immediately played a key role in the Napoli equaliser with his smart pass starting a move which was finished off by Alisson Santos.

Napoli stay third in Serie A but the reigning champions now trail Inter Milan by 11 points.

Morocco are set to enlist a secret weapon for playing Scotland in this summer's World Cup - by hiring Spanish legend Andres Iniesta as their technical director. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

The Scottish FA has announced the trial of a singing section for home matches at Hampden Park this year. (The National), external

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has promised Scotland fans they will not have to fork out ludicrous sums of money for tickets again when they co-host the next European Championships after the sky-high ticket prices for this summer's World Cup. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay is happy at Napoli but dreams of, sooner or later, returning to the Premier League and former club Manchester United are leading the way as English clubs look to entice the 29-year-old back home. (Tutto Mercato Web), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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We asked for your thoughts after Scotland landed Switzerland, Slovenia and North Macedonia in the next edition of the Nations League.

Here's what some of you had to say:

James: That's a good draw for us, we should certainly be capable of winning the group or no worse than second.

Arron: Second place good. Disappointed with Switzerland, really wanted Bosnia.

Alex: Scotland's group is winnable but the Swiss will put up a good fight, however I think Scotland will comfortably top it.

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Elliot Watt says it would be a "dream" to play for Scotland as the Motherwell midfielder looks to recapture the form he felt had him pushing for a call-up.

The 25-year-old missed five weeks with a muscle injury before playing 45 minutes in Motherwell's 1-1 draw against Rangers on Wednesday.

Watt has been one of the most influential players in the Steelmen's stunning season in which they sit fourth and have lost just four times in 33 matches.

"Listen, it would be a dream come true to get into the [Scotland] squad one day. I'd be lying if I sat here and said that it hadn't crossed my mind at all," said Watt.

"It is something that I think about and, the level I was playing at before the injury, I felt as though I maybe would have been knocking on that door and into those conversations, which was the frustrating part about the injury.

"So now it's the mindset of getting back to those levels, mainly to help the club and the journey that we're on and where we want to get to. I touched on European football, that's an aim for the club. That's where we want to get to.

"But ultimately, if that coincides with a Scotland call-up, then that would be the dream."

Before his time on the sidelines, Watt was linked with a January move to Rangers.

"I was coming off the back of winning player of the month in the league and I felt as though my form was in an amazing spot, the form of my life really," he added.

"I try to play through these little things and ultimately probably would have made it worse, I went from maybe missing one game to missing four.

"But I'm still relatively young and these are things I need to learn from quickly because ultimately it could have cost me even more."