STRENGTH IN DEPTH... AND DREAMS OF BIGGER DEEDS

SCOTLAND secured a magnificent seven points from their triple-header against Ukraine and Ireland at Hampden and away to Ukraine in neutral Poland to proudly top Nations League Group B1.

It ensured Steve Clarke’s men are second seeds when the qualifying draw is made for Euro 2024 in Frankfurt next weekend.

Scotland also have a guaranteed play-off place for Euro 2024 if they don’t successfully navigate the regular qualifying process, while topping their group also saw them win promotion to the elite Nations League Group A.

Here, Sportsmail looks at some of the lessons learned during a successful international break for Clarke and his squad.

■THE CASE FOR THE (RIGHT SIDE OF) DEFENCE

Scotland have struggled to find a top quality right-back since the retirement of Alan Hutton on 50 caps in 2016.

Now the emergence of the impressive Nathan Patterson and the performances of Aaron Hickey have shown we now have two first-class players for the position — with both just 20 years old.

Patterson limped off with an ankle injury in the first game against Ukraine, but Everton confirmed yesterday he could be back in action within four weeks.

In his place, Hickey was sensational home and away against Shakhtar Donetsk dangerman Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Both he and Patterson will have high hopes of retaining the jersey when international football resumes.

■SCOTS SHOW STRENGTH IN DEPTH DURING A CRISIS

Scotland’s propensity for producing large numbers of quality full-backs has often been seen as unfortunate. But the nation needed virtually all of them to finish on top of their group.

Liverpool star and Scotland captain Andy Robertson was ruled out with injury while Patterson limped off against Ukraine with an ankle knock and was replaced by Hickey.

When Kieran Tierney picked up a head injury before half-time against Ireland, on came Celtic’s Greg Taylor at left-back, while an injury to Hickey meant game time for Parkhead star Anthony Ralston.

Taylor and Hickey started against Ukraine in Poland before Hearts left-back Stephen Kingsley won his second cap when replacing Taylor on 72 minutes.

With Josh Doig, of Serie A side Verona on the bench, Clarke has remarkable options at full-back.

The strength in depth across this squad meant the nation was also able to cope against Ukraine without the services of Scott McTominay, who was suspended, while Scott McKenna was injured.

Clarke was already unable to call upon regulars like Grant Hanley, Liam Cooper and John Souttar and then saw a virus hit his squad, but talent, character and battling qualities saw his side prevail.

He will face selection dilemmas in the next international break but those are a welcome problem.

■HENDRY STAKES HIS CLAIM

The one criticism of this Scotland squad is the lack of top-quality central defenders.

But Jack Hendry was hugely impressive as an ever-present over the three matches. Despite playing only 97 minutes of football this season with Serie A side Cremonese, he defended stoically against Ukraine at home and he started — and finished — the move that got the Scots back into the game with the Republic of Ireland at Hampden.

He excelled in Poland as an inexperienced Scotland defence rose to the occasion and got the team over the line.

■PORTEOUS GOES FROM VILLAIN TO VINDICATION

When the Scotland teamsheet confirmed a debut for defender Ryan Porteous, social media was abuzz with doom-laden predictions of a red card for the 23-year-old Hibernian star — or fears that he would give away a penalty.

Yet he did not put a foot wrong, capping a superb debut with a perfectly-timed tackle on Oleksandr Zubkov in the penalty area late in the game.

‘The manager said maybe that will show a few people,’ grinned Porteous afterwards.

‘(People didn’t believe in me) but I’m big enough to take that. I never doubted myself and the manager has never doubted me.

‘We came here to do a job and I’m buzzing to play my part in a brilliant team performance.’

■ SCOTLAND’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE NATIONS LEAGUE CONTINUES

Finishing ahead of Israel and Albania in Nations League Group C1 in 2018 left Scotland two playoff matches away from reaching Euro 2020.

After finishing third in Group I behind Belgium and Russia, Clarke’s side beat Israel then Serbia on penalties to end a 23-year exile from major finals.

The Scots failed to clinch a play-off for Qatar 2022 through the 2021-22 Nations League, finishing second behind the Czech Republic in Group B2.

But their Nations League success this week means they have a guaranteed play-off as they aim to reach back-to-back Euros in 2024. The team are also now seeded second for the main qualifying draw in Frankfurt.

Promotion to League A means facing the elite teams on the continent and perhaps even further afield. There is talk that the ten South American teams in CONMEBOL will join the next Nations League in 2024-25.

If it comes to fruition, Scotland could face the likes of Brazil or Argentina home and away.