Steve Clarke interview: On a new life as Scotland manager and the same fears as his predecessors

It all began in a hurry. His Kilmarnock side beat Rangers on the Sunday to qualify for Europe, then that night was honoured as the football writers’ manager of the year, the next day his appointment was confirmed, and, on the Tuesday, a tired Clarke met the press.

Oh, and after that he had to get a team ready to face Belgium; arguably international football’s best outfit. And after that there was, well, nothing.

It was a far more relaxed Clarke who sat down with the media at Hampden Park during the week. He was engaging, funny and interesting. The new role, he admitted will take some time for him to adjust to, but with Russia to take on Friday, with the Belgium game three days later, both at the national stadium.

“The job's different,” admitted the 56-year-old. “It's going to take me a bit of time to adapt and get used to the role.

“The first two games were tacked on to the end of the season. I just carried on as if I was still working. Then there was the little pause in June where I needed a rest, I needed that four weeks. I think I slept for the first week.

"Then you wake up in July and wonder what you do next as an international manager. There's no games to go to, there's nothing to watch, everyone's in pre-season. It was a little bit strange. Hopefully I can find a little routine to get me through those down periods.

“Since August, it's been good to go round clubs and watch different games. I'm watching players with a view to selecting them now or in the future.

“And I'm looking forward to 10 days of madness when you go into camp. It'll be full-on, very intense. I've bumped into Gareth Southgate, Ryan Giggs, Michael O'Neill when I've been out at games.

“They tell you how intense it'll be and what to do with the down time. I'm picking up bits of experience like that, trying to get my teeth into the job. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I want to make the Tartan Army happy and qualify for a major tournament. That's the goal.

What Clarke knows and is brilliant at is coaching players and getting the best out of his team, something he did to almost miracle levels at Kilmarnock.

The Scotland squad he has picked is light. No Kieran Tierney, Leigh Griffiths, Scott McKenna and Steven Fletcher for a variety of reasons. All four, and perhaps a few more absentees, would have played over the two games.

Scotland have the safety net of a play-off to qualify for the European championship and they are going to need it. With the best will in the world, it almost impossible to see Clarke’s side, no matter who is on the pitch, get the better of two countries with world class players and a settled team.

Asked what he was looking for from this double header and then Russia away, Clarke replied: “Would four points from the three games be a good return? Nine would be better. It's difficult to say. If we go down the route of saying we have to get this – then don't get it. You end up disappointing yourself.

“Everyone will say, that's us done. But you never know what will happen in the next few games. Maybe if we get X amount of points and think that's it, then Russia will trip up somewhere else.

“You just never know. Rather than heap pressure on ourselves, let's just try and get as many points as we can. Let's get to the other side of these games with enough points to still be in contention.

“Then we'll attack the last three with relish and see if we can get out the group. That has to be the aim.”

Scotland are the underdogs for both home games a position which, in the past, has helped. In a way, there isn't pressure because of the play-off and the lack of expectation which exists within the support.

Clarke said: "I wouldn't say it helps us that we're not expected to win these two games.

“Because we're going to put ourselves under pressure to get points from the next three.

“The next three – Russia and Belgium at home then Russia away – however many points we get from those will determine whether the last three group games will be about pushing to qualify or preparing for the Nations League play-offs.

“Hopefully we'll pick up enough from these three games. Russia are a good team who did very well at their home World Cup.

“But we have to think and believe that we can cause them a lot of problems especially at Hampden.

“If we can get as many people in here as possible to get behind the team – realising how important these games are for us – the bigger belief it will give the players.

“Sometimes that lift can be the difference between getting a point or three."

Scotland are strong enough in midfield and have willing runners to do the dirty work up-front. It’s at the back where the real problems lie.

Clarke likes John Souttar of Hearts, out injured, as is Scott McKenna, while Stuart Findlay of Kilmarnock makes up the trio of centre-halves the manager must manage without. So, the centre pairing will most likely be Charlie Mulgrew and Grant Hanley.

Both have their strengths. Mulgrew in particular has been a fine servant. But it’s not what Clarke would want. For Scotland to be successful, whatever that means anymore, the manager needs a settled team from front to back.

Sadly, this is not a reality in international football if you’re a Scot.

Clarke said: “It’s difficult, you go into a club job and you’ve probably 12 weeks where you are working with them day in, day out and setting and shaping your team.

“I think I worked out in my head it’s something like 75 training sessions before you’ve got them pretty well drilled. You’re not going to get that in international football so you’re relying on their intelligence and the ability of the players to slot in.

“Hopefully in the two games you saw in the summer you could see that bit of shape, bit of definition to the team. From that team we’ve lost Scott McKenna at the back.

“I was hoping Charlie and Scott might become a feature partnership that got to know each other and could get to know each other but that’s been broken straight away.

“So, we might have to find a different way of playing but I will get as many training sessions as I can into the boys. You’re only talking three or four because by the time you get them on the Monday a lot are recovering from the weekend games and you’ve probably a double session on the Tuesday and maybe a session on the Wednesday, a session the Thursday.

“You’re hoping those players are at this level for a reason, they are good players, intelligent players and hopefully whichever pairing or back four I go with they have a good understanding and if you are difficult to beat you always have a chance to win a game.”