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Steven Naismith won 51 Scotland caps as a player Former Heart of Midlothian head coach Steven Naismith is returning to Scotland's backroom team after "not jumping straight back in" to management. Naismith left Tynecastle 11 months ago following eight successive defeats. The 38-year-old former Kilmarnock, Rangers, Everton, Norwich and Hearts forward previously assisted Steve Clarke from 2021-23 and won 51 Scotland caps as a player. Naismith replaces Lechia Gdansk manager John Carver as assistant while Andrew Hughes is also added to Clarke's team as set-piece coach. "When I left Hearts, I made a point of not jumping straight back in at the first offer but to reflect on my coaching experiences and wait for something that really excited me, " said Naismith. "When I first spoke to Steve about the possibility of coming back it was a no brainer. I loved playing for my country, I've loved being part of the coaching team previously and I can't wait to help support the mission to take Scotland to a World Cup again. " Hughes added: "My father is Scottish and as well as this being a proud moment for me and my family, it is a hugely exciting time as a coach to be part of a World Cup qualifying campaign, with such a talented squad, following back-to-back Euro qualifications. I can't wait to get started. " Everton assistant and former Preston, Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom manager Alan Irvine will continue as one of Clarke's assistants. Scotland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign away to Denmark on 5 September and will also play Belarus and Greece this autumn. "I am delighted to have Steven and Andrew with us for the World Cup qualifying campaign, " said Clarke. "Steven has been with us before and brings a real complementary skill set to myself and Alan Irvine. He has had opportunities to return to full-time club football, so it says a lot for his pride in the national team that he has agreed to join up with us again. "I am also really pleased to have Andrew with us. He has coached in a variety of roles since retiring from playing but has excelled as set-piece coach at Norwich City and now Leicester City and I am grateful to Marti Cifuentes for allowing Andrew to work with us during the international windows. " Barnet sign keeper Slicker on loan from Ipswich Wildcards, breakouts and new faces - 21 Premier League players to watch Mohamed Salah - Egyptian king Test cricket could 'bankrupt' nations - Aussie CEO A stylish spy thriller starring Tom Hughes and Brian Cox Greg Foot chips away at the science behind nail polish Inside Scotland's most shocking murder investigations Remembering the 1991 Santa Cruz Massacre in East Timor 'Aberdeen savour the most perfect game ever played' How Mc Tominay became a Napoli icon after Man Utd exit Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland? From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs Wildcards, breakouts and new faces - 21 Premier League players to watch Mohamed Salah - Egyptian king What is multi-club ownership in football? Video What is multi-club ownership in football? 'Shoddy, shabby & not good enough' - but Rangers do what they need to Spurs start new era under 'glass half-full' Frank Watch: Mic'd up Livingstone captains team in real time. Video Watch: Mic'd up Livingstone captains team in real time Fresh or fatigued - how rested is your Premier League team's squad? Lewandowski, Man Utd and the transfer that got away. Video Lewandowski, Man Utd and the transfer that got away These eight players will help you win FPL How do Newcastle resolve Isak saga & rescue 'nightmare' window? Why have Ferrari been unable to win a title since 2008? Raducanu 'getting back to best' but edged out by Sabalenka Owners worth billions, so why might Red Bull era dawn slowly at Newcastle? Chaos & controversy - Rashford's first two weeks inside Barca soap opera When England won by two runs - the greatest ever Test match? Video When England won by two runs - the greatest ever Test match? Becky Zerlentes - the first female boxer to die in fight in US Hansie Cronje, match-fixing and plane crash that left a complex legacy Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.