Angelo Alessio, Shelley Kerr & Steve Clarke – wishes for the new season

It’s worth taking stock of where we’re at with Scottish football right now. In the season just gone, Andy Robertson won a Champions League with Liverpool and reinforced his status as a darling of the Anfield crowd. Alongside him, Virgil van Dijk, a player who cheerily talks about the influence his Celtic years had on him, reinforced his claim to be the world’s leading centre-half.

Ryan Fraser was one of the Premier League’s most coruscating attacking talents. Scott McTominay broke into the Manchester United team. Norwich fans saluted Kenny McLean as they won promotion to the Premier League.

In becoming the second team to advance to the English top flight, Sheffield United played 46 matches and John Fleck started in 45 of them. Aston Villa fans swooned at the contribution John McGinn made in getting them into the big league next season by way of the play-offs. Liam Henderson won promotion to Serie A with Verona.

Domestically, Celtic won everything again. Arsenal want Kieran Tierney. The price tag is £25m. Most observers would conclude that Callum McGregor is well capable of operating at an established top-10 Premier League club. None of this individual excellence has translated into the international scene, but now that Steve Clarke is in place, there’s hope again. There are more decent Scottish footballers out there now than there has been in years.