Are Scotland really going to name 55 players in World Cup squad?

Steve Clarke delivered the news almost as an aside.

In his media conference before the friendly with Ivory Coast in Liverpool, the Scotland head coach disclosed that Fifa demands he submits a provisional 55 names for his World Cup squad this summer.

The 62-year-old even mused that he might even need to include himself to make up the numbers and summon long-retired coach Steven Naismith for a potential 52nd national team appearance.

"It's a Fifa requirement that you put in a squad, I think it's about 55 names," Clarke said. "And I'm definitely number 55... But I'll find 55, for sure.

"Your 26 will come from that group and there can be late additions too. But hopefully I don't forget anybody. We'll work on it."

But before players around the country start scrabbling to check their passport is in date before the 11 May deadline, lets scratch below the surface of what Clarke said.

Is he really going to announce the names of 55 Scottish-qualified footballers, before then breaking the hearts of 29 of them three weeks later?

In short, no.

A week or two before every international camp - including the current one - a 'fitness for duty' check goes out to an extended pool of players.

Usually, that is around 40-strong, with the Scottish FA contacting their respective clubs to establish if they are available. And that list comprises a provisional squad, with the final selection having to be made within 15 days of the match.

But here's the thing... that list is not made public. In fact, clubs don't always tell their players that they're in contention.

Sometimes, it's the day of the announcement before they get a call to tell them. Other times, the first they know for sure is when the Scottish FA posts the squad on social media.

May's list will be no different. It could be a maximum of 55 names and a minimum of 35. Clubs will be contacted, players might find out, Fifa will be notified, and the odd name might even leak out, but there will be no grand unveiling.

And Clarke - who missed out on the 1990 World Cup having been named in the provisional squad by Andy Roxburgh - suggests that most of those on the extended list will suspect they will not be travelling to the United States.

Scotland host Curacao in a Hampden friendly on 30 May before travelling to the US, where they will take on Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in Group C.

"I won't be going around every single name," he said. "I won't be standing in front of the mirror telling myself, 'you're not going either!'"

The head coach did, however, reveal he will likely name a stand-by list from those who don't make the cut.

"I'd imagine across May when I'm speaking to people – and possibly giving them the news that they haven't made the squad – I'll be telling them they have to be ready.

"Right up until the first game you can change players so we will have a few players on stand-in."