Let’s get the troubling position out the way, first.

Though Angus Gunn kept back-to-back clean sheets on his return between the Scotland sticks earlier this month, the shotstopper has not had a sniff at new club Nottingham Forest in the meantime.

He’s only been named on the bench once – in the late League Cup win against Swansea – since 31 August, and has yet to catch even the peripheral vision of new manager Ange Postecoglou.

The good news for Gunn – perhaps not Clarke and the rest of the country – though, is no other goalkeeper is staking a claim to start.

Zander Clark hasn’t featured for Hearts since joining 29-year-old Gunn on the plane earlier this month, while Rangers’ Liam Kelly has only played against Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup this campaign.

The most recent call-up playing regular football is League Two Barnet’s Cieran Slicker.

It may be too soon to mention his name, following his horror Hampden debut, but Slicker has started nine league games, and recently saved two penalties in one afternoon against Crewe Alexandra.

Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain came in for a bounty of praise, despite their 3-0 defeat by Hearts on Saturday. If not for the former Celtic benchwarmer, John McGlynn’s side would have been on the end of a mauling.

The last of his three caps came more than six years ago in a 2-0 win over San Marino – Alex McLeish’s last game in charge before the Clarke era commenced.

How Clarke – and Scotland – have come to this between the sticks still leaves the mind boggling, but for now, Clarke has another big call or two to make.