The Canaries’ captain is at present north of the border with Steve Clarke’s squad for friendlies towards Japan on Saturday and the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Being named in the World Cup squad is uncommon sufficient for a serving Norwich participant -pulling on the jersey is one thing just one different participant has ever executed.
It was on March 28, 1990, that Robert Fleck made his debut for Scotland.
Fleck got here on throughout the 1-0 win over Argentina at Hampden Park and did sufficient to earn his place in Andy Roxburgh’s 1990 World Cup squad that was sure for Italy.
There, he began the 2-1 group sport win over Sweden and got here on as a sub in the 1-0 defeat by Brazil.
Fleck stays the solely participant who was on Norwich City’s books when he performed for Scotland at a finals. Bryan Gunn was in the similar squad however didn’t make an look – Jim Leighton began all three video games whereas Andy Goram was on the bench.
No different Scotland World Cup squad (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998) incorporates a participant who was on Norwich’s books throughout these particular finals.
Roll on 36 years and Canaries skipper McLean might be hoping to emulate Fleck, this time flying the saltire throughout the Atlantic for the 2026 version of soccer’s international gathering.
Whilst Norwich have had loads of gamers who’ve appeared for Scotland, there are just a few Canaries who’ve performed in World Cup finals.
WILLIE DONACHIE
The defender performed in the 1974 finals in the former West Germany in addition to in Argentina in 1978. He didn’t make an look in ’74 however 4 years later he began the 1-1 draw with Iran and the 3-2 win over the Netherlands.
Donachie was with Manchester City at the time of each finals, spending 1980-81 with Portland Timbers earlier than shifting to Carrow Road in 1981. He made 11 appearances throughout his six months at Norwich earlier than returning to Portland, then happening to spells with Burnley and Oldham.
ASA HARTFORD
In 1978, the midfielder performed all three of Scotland’s video games, kicking off with the sport towards Peru. At the time of the finals he was additionally a Manchester City participant, shifting to Norwich in 1984 for a season which noticed him win a Milk Cup medal after his deflected shot gained the sport for Norwich towards Sunderland.
Honourable mentions also needs to go to 2 former Norwich managers who appeared for Scotland in World Cup finals. Bruce Rioch, in cost at Carrow Road for lower than two seasons at the finish of the Nineties, was Scotland captain at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. He began in the opening 3-1 defeat to Peru and the last 3-2 victory over the Netherlands. Born in Aldershot to Scottish mother and father, he turned the first participant born in England to captain Scotland.
Paul Lambert, who took Norwich from League One to the Premier League after becoming a member of in 2009, was in the squad for the 1990 World Cup in France however didn’t make it to the bench.
