Ranks fourth in the Nations League when it comes to shots on an overall basis, with 17. He is second when it comes to shots per 90 as he posts 6.71, which is only behind Sweden striker Alexander Isak.

Matanovic has a strong history against Scotland, having scored when the sides played each other last month. Should suit him that Scotland are fragile in the heart of their defence.

A player of increasing importance to Croatia, having started in each of the last three matches. He is imposing himself as their first-choice No.9.

He is a prolific shooter. Has at least three shots in three of his four Nations League appearances, including the previous clash against Scotland. He managed three shots against the Scots, plus a couple on target.

Comes into this game relatively fresh, having fallen out of favour with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Both Scotland and Croatia have typically involved plenty of cards and that seems likely to continue at Hampden.

Scotland’s last three games have all seen more than three cards, with the last clash between these two nations resulting in a game that saw both teams pick up a couple of cautions.

Steve Clarke’s side have been excellent at drawing cards from their opponents throughout this tournament, with each of their rivals picking up at least two cards.

Of Scotland’s four matches in the Nations League to date, three have produced at least four cards, with the exception of the 3-2 loss against Poland on the opening night, when they were three cards (all for the visiting side).

Croatia’s matches have also seen plenty of cards, with each of their last three having three or more. Only their opening match, away to Portugal, has produced less than four cards.

Referee Orel Grinfeld averages 5.36 cards per match in games he’s overseen this season.

Dykes will be charged to rough up the Croatian defenders in this game, with the Birmingham striker liable to be deployed for his nuisance value to frustrate the visiting team with his sheer physicality.

The Australian-born striker has been drawing fouls at a rate of 3.2 per 90 in the Nations League, which includes three fouls drawn against Croatia when the sides met a month ago.

He has been fouled in 12 of his last 14 international starts for Scotland, showing that he has a strong record at winning fouls.

Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol and Duje Caleta-Car have combined for 1.3 fouls per 90 in this edition of the Nations League, with the latter committing two fouls against Scotland when these sides met previously.

John McGinn sits joint-11th in the Nations League when it comes to drawing fouls as he has picked up 10 fouls in the competition, despite playing only two fixtures due to injury last month.

McGinn is earning 5.0 fouls per 90 in the Nations League and has picked up exactly five fouls in each of his last three international matches, including two games in this competition.

He has been a consistently prolific foul-winner for Scotland, even as his overall level has dropped over the course of the last 18 months. In his last eight competitive international starts, he has drawn at least two fouls on seven occasions – the exception being the Euro 2024 opener against Germany.

Will operate in roughly the same area as Ivan Perisic, who has committed 1.36 fouls per 90 in the Nations League this season, putting him joint third among Croatia players who have featured for more than 100 minutes in the Nations League.

Has played at least 80 minutes in 13 of his last 16 internationals so should play much of the game.

Napoli midfielder McTominay has been at the heart of Scotland’s attacking plans over the course of the last couple of years, scoring ten goals in his last 13 international matches.

He has only failed to muster a shot on target across these games on three occasions. One of these was against Croatia away from home but in the Nations League as a whole, the former Manchester United star has mustered five in his other three clashes.

Has been particularly good at registering shots on target in home matches. The only time he failed to hit a shot on target in the last six competitive clashes at Hampden was a Euro 2024 qualifier against Norway that had no meaning to it.

Croatia have been giving up numerous shots on target when playing away from home in the Nations League. In their two away matches against Portugal and Poland, they have conceded six shots on target on both occasions.

Ryan Christie has been given increased freedom for Scotland in recent matches, which has seen him push forward on a more regular basis than previously. While he plays in a defensive midfield role at club level, he is typically employed in a more box-to-box role at international level, giving him more opportunities to get shots on target.

The Bournemouth midfielder, who has been in excellent form in the Premier League, has had shots on target in each of his last couple of Scotland matches. He even netted against Croatia when the sides last met, turning home a cross that was deflected to him in the box. This is the type of area he doesn’t get into regularly at club level.

Earlier in his career, he was used in a more attacking role and went on a run of having 10 successive Scotland games in which he had a shot on target, which shows that he has it in him to hit the target regularly.

Although Scotland sit bottom of the Nations League Group A1 table, their performances have been better than their one point from four matches suggest. They have stretched their opponents in each game, with all three defeats coming by just a single goal, showing they have been highly competitive.

Managed to frustrate Portugal to a scoreless draw at Hampden in their previous match – an encounter in which they had the best chance via Scott McTominay.

Lost their other match against Poland 3-2 but that came off the back of a very disappointing first-half performance, the type of which Scotland have not shown since then. Were outstanding after that until conceding a cheap penalty late in the match.

Croatia have failed to win either of their away matches, losing in Portugal before drawing 3-3 in Poland in their previous game.

Both of these teams have typically been involved in matches that have produced goals at both ends of the field.

Three of Croatia’s four games have seen both teams score, while each of their two away games have resulted in this outcome. Indeed, their previous away game was a thrilling 3-3 draw against Poland.

Scotland have also shown a capacity for goals at both ends of the field, with their attacking play typically better than their defensive work. Three of their four matches have also ended with goals at both ends of the park.

The head-to-head history between these sides in recent years suggests there will be goals at either end of the field. Each of the last two encounters between these nations have ended with both teams netting: a 3-1 Croatia win in Glasgow in Euro 2020 (a game that took place in 2021) and then the 2-1 Croat success last month.