Assistant coach John Carver has branded Scotland’s squad the “most focused group” he has ever worked with and stressed there were no thoughts of Euro 2024 qualification ahead of Friday’s game in Cyprus.

A fifth win from five qualifiers in Larnaca could see Scotland qualify on Tuesday night, when they host England in a friendly, if other results go a particular way.

But Carver knows the only outcome they can effect is on Friday night at the AEK Arena and nothing else is worth thinking about.

The former Newcastle interim manager is sure Steve Clarke’s players will only have eyes for Cyprus and not next summer in Germany.

“We have not even discussed England or anything outside the game on Friday night against Cyprus,” he said.

“We have to put all our energy into the game. We have to stay humble and show humility.

“Going into this game is all about hard work, preparation, players being focused and making sure all our efforts are going into this game.

“The players are very level-headed so they don’t listen to the outside noise, and that’s important. And we encourage that.

“As a group of staff and players we have had some big games recently and they always say the next game is the biggest, and it is. But it’s not about ‘can we qualify on Friday night?’

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