What questions face Clarke as he names Scotland squad?

Three weeks on from taking charge for a record 72nd time, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke will name a potentially history making squad on Monday.

A World Cup play-off place already secured, they head to Greece on 15 November, before hosting current Group C leaders Denmark three days later with a chance of automatic qualification to the finals for a first time in 28 years.

With the Danes having a superior goal difference and facing bottom side Belarus next, Clarke's side realistically need to draw in Pireas at least to set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Hampden.

But, before he even starts thinking of the points permutations, what are the key questions for the national boss as he has been pondering fitness and form?

The fact goalkeeper Angus Gunn has not played for Nottingham Forest since his move from Norwich City this summer was bad enough.

Now the 29-year-old is an almost certain absentee after club boss Sean Dyche revealed that Gunn had "opened up his knee ligaments".

Likely without his recent first choice, Clarke is left searching for a replacement from a shallow pool of options.

Craig Gordon is the obvious likely starter given his sterling service and 81 caps, but the 42-year-old has found himself supplanted by summer signing Alexander Schwolow as Heart of Midlothian's number one.

Likewise, the other goalkeeper in Clarke's last squad, Liam Kelly, is warming the bench behind Jack Butland at Rangers.

Meanwhile, of recent squad call-ups, only Cieran Slicker, currently with League Two side Barnet, and uncapped duo Jon McCracken, of Dundee, and Robby McCrorie, of Esbjerg in Denmark's second tier, have had any recent club game time.

It's not often Scotland have been able to say this, but things are looking brighter at the other end of the park.

Che Adams started the ball rolling with the opening goal last time out in the 2-1 win over Belarus and followed that up on Sunday by scoring in Torino's 2-2 draw with Pisa - only his third of the season.

George Hirst took his total to five for the campaign with a double as Ipswich Town won 4-1 away to Queens Park Rangers.

Lyndon Dykes continues to come off the bench for Championship rivals Birmingham City, but his place in the squad was surely secured with last month's late clincher at home to Greece.

Kieron Bowie, though, has gone off the boil with Hibernian, so could the fourth striker space be up for grabs?

Even though his Middlesbrough side are second in the Championship despite Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Watford, Tommy Conway has also gone through a nine-game barren spell and missed out last time.

Mikael Mandron's double in St Mirren's 4-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Motherwell on Sunday has led to calls, from his club at least, for the French-born 31-year-old to be called up by Scotland for the first time since under-20 level.

However, he faces stiff competition from a reborn Lawrence Shankland, whose revival continues with Premiership leaders Hearts, his goal in Saturday's 4-0 demolition of Dundee taking him top of the domestic scoring charts.

There was a time when central defence was seen as Scotland's Achilles heel and full-back their strength.

Not so recently and they were dealt a double blow this week when Derby County announced Max Johnston had been ruled out for six to eight weeks with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, fellow right-back Nathan Patterson's Everton woes continue as he needs a hernia operation.

Johnston was the one drafted in last time after Aaron Hickey picked up an injury during Scotland's win over Greece.

However, the good news for Clarke is the latter returned to training this week, although Brentford head coach Keith Andrews decided it was too soon for him to feature at the weekend.

Over on the left, Kieran Tierney's injury niggles continue to limit him to appearances off the bench for Celtic, but national captain Andy Robertson was at least back in Liverpool's starting line-up as they beat Aston Villa 2-0.

Clarke is well-known for his loyalty to his players, but occasionally - very occasionally - he produces a wild card.

In addition to Mandron, Brondby's Luis Binks appeared from nowhere in the media this week after expressing a desire to play for Scotland for the first time since under-18 level and having played for England youths since.

Previously with Bologna and Como, then Coventry City until this summer, Binks has been playing at a good level, but Scotland's present centre-backs are all currently starting regularly for their clubs.

Midfield is another area for which Scotland are fairly well covered.

However, Billy Gilmour coming off after 38 minutes of Napoli's 0-0 draw with Como will have had Clarke waiting nervously by his mobile.