Clarke protecting herd & Shankland must start - Doolan

Kris Doolan believes Scotland head coach Steve Clarke's first priority is to "protect the herd".

A training-ground friendly with Norway on Monday was cancelled, with Clarke saying "it wasn't worth the risk". Norway head coach Stale Solbakken said Clarke was "unprofessional".

"This happens at club level a lot if they're arranging behind closed doors games," former Partick Thistle manager Doolan told the BBC's latest Scottish Football Podcast.

"Things change, plans change, things within the squad. The manager's job is to protect the herd. That's what Steve Clarke's doing."

Meanwhile, Doolan believes Lawrence Shankland should start Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti on Sunday after three goals in his past two international appearances.

Rangers' latest signing opened the scoring in Saturday's 4-0 win over Bolivia, with Che Adams netting twice. Lyndon Dykes set up one of Shankland's goals in the 4-1 defeat of Curacao and George Hirst is also in the World Cup squad.

"He doesn't want four strikers all the same and I think he's chosen well," former striker Doolan said of head coach Clarke.

"The two boys, Shankland and Che Adams, to use a phrase, they've timed their run well because they've just scored the goals. That's got everybody wanting them to play together.

"They've showed that they can play together. I think they're the two we'll start with. I believe it's Shankland and A.N other. We only have to create one or two really good chances and he's the guy who can finish."