The Tartan Army are gearing up for a Euros qualification party at Hampden tonight. And while it appears some will never be completely won over by Steve Clarke there’s a growing feeling on the Hotline that the Scotland boss now stands up there with the best.

Three months after celebrating his 60th birthday Clarke hit the 50 mark for games in charge of his country. Only Jock Stein, Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown had reached that milestone before him. And with a second major championships appearance secured, the Tartan Army were in grateful mood.

Andrew Wilson, Cambuslang, said: “Fair play to Clarke for the work he has done with this Scotland squad. He’s matched or bettered the achievements of all his predecessors by qualifying for a second major tournament and taken decent players onto a new level. I reckon he’ll break new ground in Germany by taking us through the group stage.”

A little less gushing but equally appreciative, Andy Lanigan, Bishopbriggs , said: “Some callers are dismissing comparisons between Clarke and Jock Stein. I’m not a great fan of Clarke, but he has worked wonders with players who are not in same class as the ones Stein had.

"Despite having Souness, Hansen, Dalglish, Strachan and others at their peaks, Stein qualified for one tournament outright, set up a play-off for another and failed in two others. Not a great record, considering the talent he had to pick from.”

Steve Clarke

Caller John Allardyce claimed after the Georgia draw that Scotland players are “kidding themselves on” if they think they can reach the knockout stages in Germany. But Martin Leggat emailed: “How stupid is Mr Allardyce? If Stuart Armstrong does not think they can get through the group stages in Germany, neither he nor the team should be there. You have to think Scotland can do it as a player.”

Away from the international arena and Celtic winger Luis Palma’s value has been become a topic for debate despite the Honduras international only having touched down in Glasgow three months ago. Liam Birney, Paisley, said: “So Hotline caller and clairvoyant Donald Dundas thinks Celtic fans are deluded for thinking we could get £20m for Palma just because he scored against Atletico Madrid?

"A wee reminder Donald that we got £25m for Jota after he scored against Real Madrid who also beat us. And Palma is younger! Rangers fans talking about money; oh the irony.”

Does scoring in the Champions League add more to a player’s value than goals in the Europa League? Regular caller Henry Moffat seemed to think so when he referred to the Europa League as the Mickey Mouse Cup while talking up Palma.

But Hugh Gallagher, Glasgow, said: “Here we go again, Henry Moffat waffling utter tripe about scoring goals in the ‘Mickey Mouse Cup’. Is this the same cup that Celtic fans attended in their droves, a dvd was released and a play written about? You're right, you couldn't make it up.”

And John Hutchison, Glasgow, added: “The Mickey Mouse Cup? A reported 100,000 Celtic fans were supposed have attended the final of it in Seville, how times have changed!”

Meanwhile, Everton’s 10 point deduction for breaching financial rules has shone a light on the Premier League south of the border. Alan Flett emailed: “The EPL is the best league in the world? Get real! If you take Man City out of the equation, it’s a league full of overhyped, overpaid players and managers. A poor Everton side have had 10 points deducted and are now in the relegation zone, but they’ll be ok because the teams around them are even worse.”