“The best thing for me is there’s the younger guys that are coming in,” Naismith added. “We’ve got a bit more depth than we have done in previous squads.”
Naismith pointed to the example of Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway, who has forced himself back into the group.
“Having a really good season, had to be patient, probably could argue he could have been in a few of the squads before and then he’s in,” he said.
“The best example is the Euros with Billy Gilmour and Nathan Patterson. They had no experience, but the manager’s willing to take them to a tournament.
“The manager’s conscious of making sure that the progression of the squad is good and that’s not just young players.”
Naismith also cited defenders Greg Taylor, Stephen O’Donnell, Declan Gallacher and Andrew Considine as players brought in at times from less fashionable clubs in previous squads.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re playing – if the manager thinks you can be useful with the squad and improve the squad or help the squad out at certain points, he’ll select you,” he said. “He’s done that.”
The next chance to impress is at Hampden on Saturday against Japan, who are currently 19th in the world rankings, 19 places above the Scots, then Ivory Coast, just one spot above Clarke’s side, in Liverpool on Tuesday.
“It’s quite an exciting challenge, these next two games, because a couple of countries that Scotland aren’t used to playing, maybe stylistically, very different as well,” Naismith added.
“It was a conscious decision to get fixtures like that. They’re two really tough games. That’s the level you are going to come up against at the World Cup.”
