Ryan Jack swerves Rangers rivalry with Celtic captain Callum McGregor as he hails ‘great’ Scotland relationship

They’re probably already sick of the sight of one another in their day jobs.

And with three more Old Firm squabbles to be settled before the season comes to a close, there’s a very good chance they’ll end up at each other’s throats before they take a bit of time out for the summer. But, for the next few days at least, Ryan Jack and Callum McGregor can call a truce on their ongoing domestic feuds to pull together for the sake of the nation. Again.

The fiery Rangers lynchpin and the ice cold captain of Celtic might make the oddest couple in Scottish football but the relationship they have forged together at the heart of Steve Clarke’s engine room has already driven this country to one major finals. And now they are about to team up to begin plotting the next big Euro road trip all the way to the next one in Germany.

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With the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and John McGinn to slot into his starting line-up ahead of a Hampden double header against Cyprus and Spain, Clarke has plenty of options at his disposal. But it was during the journey to the last European Championships that Jack and McGregor became his go-to pairing in the heart of the pitch.

Ultimately, injury kept the unfortunate Jack out of the tournament in 2021, but the Ibrox stalwart is fully fit again and hoping to rekindle the spark which helped Scotland break a run of more than two decades spent in the international wilderness – with his rival at his side. Jack said: “As you say, we had a great relationship through that number of games that me and Callum played in.

“Obviously, I don’t know what the manager is going to go with – I don’t know the formation or the personnel – but when you go away you just want to do as well as you can and try to show him in the first couple of days of training that you’re ready – you’re fit and strong and your healthy. I’m sure it will be the same idea for us all. We all want to go, we all want to play and that’s the sort of mentality that we’re going to need.

”It’s a great sort of mix – I think there are five or six midfielders in the squad – and when you look at it you think anyone could play, anyone could step in and there’s not going to be a big gap in the quality that’s coming in and out “For me, it’s great competition but it’s also great for us as a nation having that strength in depth that hopefully we can go and be successful.”

Ryan Jack replaces Callum McGregor during an International Friendly between Scotland and Poland (Image: SNS Group)

The feel good factor Clarke has created around this Scotland camp has not diminished despite missing out on a place at last year’s World Cup Finals in Qatar. On the contrary, the excitement levels are beginning to build all over again as a new campaign looms for one of the most talented Scotland squads in generations.

And the players can feel it from the inside. Jack went on: “I’m really looking forward to it. I think you’re always sort of waiting for the squad to be announced and obviously I managed to get myself back in it for two big games at the start of a new campaign.

“It’s always very important that we start well and Cyprus and Spain are two great games for us at home. We want to go and stamp our authority on the group. It’s good to have that expectation because it shows how far we’ve come as a group. With the staff and the group of players it’s been the same core of players for a wee while now.

“I think the team has gelled well so I think it’s time to start well and really put a stamp on the group. I don’t see why we can’t do that. I think there has always been an expectation. I don’t think that’s ever not been there. This group of players have just obviously managed to get to the Euros a couple of years ago and, obviously, having that level of success has just given everyone a taste.

Rangers’ Ryan Jack (Image: SNS Group)

“The players, the staff and the supporters on the outside – everyone has had a flavour and a taste of what it means and how big an achievement it could be. So, for us as players, you carry that burden and we want to go and try to do it again.”

And yet, for all Scotland may be focussed on moving forward, a quick glance in the rear view mirror provides a timely reminder of what lies around the next bend. And that’s even before those swashbuckling Spaniards arrive in Glasgow next Tuesday night as red hot favourites in a Group A, even despite the presence of Erling Haaland’s Norway.

Last time out against Cyprus, back in November 2019, Scotland escaped with all three points by the skin of their teeth after scraping a 2-1 win in Strovolos. And Jack nodded: “We’ve definitely evolved and improved – 100 per cent. I remember that game – Cyprus away – and it was a tough game, a tough night.

“We got the result but it just shows you, at that level, there are no easy games. You can’t afford to take your eye off the ball. So we need to be on it. We need to start well and hopefully, if we start well and get good results, it will carry us momentum wise through the group.”

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