June friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein bared the paucity of Scotland’s goalkeeping pool at international level. Summer sunshine has not brightened the issue any ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers. The Tartan Army are known for lapping up lager but may need an extra few pints to cope if anything goes wrong in goal against Denmark or Belarus next month. Angus Gunn is fit again as the established Scotland No.1 since switching allegiance from England to Scotland in March 2023. He holds 16 caps as national coach Steve Clarke’s favoured choice, and kept goal at Euro 2024, but is firmly second in line at new club Nottingham Forest. Belgian internationalist Matz Sels is difficult to dislodge and Gunn’s lack of club activity does Clarke no favours as he looks to solve a goalkeeping quandary. The English Premier League season began at the weekend as Forest beat Brentford 3-1 with Sels in goal and Gunn on the substitutes’ bench. Barring injury, that situation won’t change between now and Scotland’s opening World Cup qualifier in Copenhagen on 5 September. Nonetheless, it is still highly likely that 29-year-old Gunn will be Clarke’s starting keeper. The alternatives are arguably a higher risk. Back in June, Gunn’s injury after seven minutes against Iceland prompted Cieran Slicker’s full international debut as a substitute. It wasn’t one to remember. Scotland’s 3-1 defeat at Hampden Park will linger in memory for the wrong reasons. Chances of Slicker earning a second cap any time soon are slim. The 22-year-old joined Barnet on loan from Ipswich Town this month and will concentrate on club business in England’s League Two for now. Ross Doohan was called up to take over from Slicker for the second friendly against Liechtenstein. He recorded a shutout on his international debut as Scotland won 4-0 in Vaduz. The 27-year-old has since rejoined formative club Celtic from Aberdeen but finds himself third-choice in Glasgow. Kasper Schmeichel is Denmark’s No.1 - he will almost certainly face Scotland next month - while deputy Viljami Sinisalo is a Finnish internationalist and played in Friday’s Premier Sports Cup victory over Falkirk. The only capped Scotland goalkeepers playing regularly at the start of the new season are Hearts’ Zander Clark and Scott Bain of Falkirk. Clark’s campaign with Hearts has been hitherto unconvincing with some questionable goals conceded. He was watched by his namesake national coach in Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup tie at St Mirren. The tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Saints winning 5-4 on penalties. Clark, 33, has four caps to date and, like many counterparts, lacks international experience. Bain, also 33, has three caps but the last of those was more than six years ago. Craig Gordon’s injury further complicates the situation. Although 42 years old, Gordon would be a viable challenger for the Scotland goalkeeping position were it not for persistent nerve pain between his neck and shoulder. He missed all of Hearts’ pre-season and is not expected to be fit for several weeks yet, although he is by far the most experienced Scottish keeper with 81 caps. He kept goal in March for the Nations League play-off against Greece with Gunn injured. Regardless of Gordon’s availability, the lack of long-term options eligible for the Scottish FA is startling. Rangers’ Liam Kelly will probably find himself called up for next month’s double header even though he is second-choice behind Jack Butland at Ibrox. He would have been grateful for Saturday’s game time against Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup. The 29-year-old’s solitary Scotland cap to date came against France two years ago. Young Bournemouth goalkeeper Callan McKenna was a late addition to the June squad but, at 18, is not ready for internationals after only seven senior appearances. Those came on loan at Queen’s Park in 2023. Jon McCracken is the Dundee No.1 and was in previous Scotland squads but is 25 and uncapped. Kilmarnock’s Robby McCrorie is another named in squads before, however the 27-year-old is out of favour at Rugby Park. So, all in all, Clarke is faced with an unenviable dilemma. He is likely to select Gunn in Denmark, doubtless hoping that any early-season rustiness through lack of match practice does not prove costly. Doohan, Kelly and Clark would seem the obvious back-up options for the squad, which is due to be named next week. Come October and November qualifiers, the situation will become even more concerning if Gunn remains in the background at Forest and Gordon is still injured. READ MORE: New signings, Hearts tactics and what comes next