Former Newcastle United head coach John Carver has high hopes for Scotland at Euro 2020

Carver the coaching staff of Steve Clarke, his former Newcastle United colleague, last year.

Scotland qualified for the tournament, their first in 23 years, after beating Serbia in a play-off.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s opener against Czech Republic and the June 18 game against England at Wembley, the former Newcastle head coach said: “What we don’t want to do is just arrive at the tournament and say ‘right, we’re happy to be here’.

“We want to take the next step. Because if we have a good tournament, that will put us in good stead for the next part of the World Cup.

“This group of players want to compete and progress. I know the manager has talked about, every time we play an international match, they gain experience, they will get better and stronger, and that’s what I’m seeing.

“Since I arrived in September, I think we’ve had five camps, and the quality in the group has got better and better, and the standards have got higher and higher.

“I’m expecting us to get out of the group. The guys are confident enough to do that, and if we can achieve something that’s never been achieved by a Scotland men’s national team, that’s what we’re looking for.”

United winger Ryan Fraser – who had an injury-hit first season at St James’s Park following his move to the club as a free agent – is in the Scotland squad.

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