Scotland

The Scotland players no doubt applied the factor 50 before turning out for today's training session...

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Megan Bonar
Reporting from Boston

Image source, PA Media

Scots arriving in Boston for Scotland's opening match against Haiti on Saturday (US time) are facing 31C temperatures.

Around 30,000 fans are expected in the city for the fixture, and streets and bars are gradually filling up with kilts and Scotland tops.

The atmosphere has been building at the Haven Bar - Boston's only Scottish pub - with a piper playing the US national anthem and extra Scottish beer shipped in.

Originally from Glasgow, brothers Paul Flynn and Gary Collins, have come together for the tournament from their homes thousands of miles apart in Australia and York.

"There's a real air of anticipation, everyone is in a good jovial mood," Gary said. "It feels like we're on the cusp of something special. The Tartan Army has got a reputation and Boston is welcoming us well so far."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

The sheer volume of Scotland fans in Boston is already visibly cranking up.

Last night we bumped into Radio 5 Live's very own Pat Nevin who had just arrived, who told us of every plane to pretty much every destination being filled with Tartan Army followers, going every which way to make it over here.

Hope they've packed their sun cream.

Gordon Ramsay is a part of the Scotland takeover in Boston...

We said Gordon Ramsay was in town...here is the celebrity chef at Scotland training.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan was asked in a Q&A in this page earlier today how crucial Scott McTominay was for Scotland:

"I'm a big fan of McTominay myself and I think if Scotland are to get joy, he will likely be central to it. His ability to cover big distances, even in a warmer climate, will be one of his strengths.

"If teams look to press Scotland when they build out from the back, his ability to carry the ball up the pitch will give Scotland respite. He also makes sense as an aerial target when they go long.

"As we've seen for both Manchester United and Napoli, he has match-winning quality. His ball-striking and threat from set-plays will be key if Scotland are to turn tight games into results.

"In short, arguably their most important player for me."

Lewis Irons
BBC Scotland in Boston

Absolute relief. McTominay is in training and looks at his usual best here. He’s sharp in the rondos and looking in good spirits.

Everybody breathe.

More pictures are coming through of Scotland training.

Scott McTominay's appearance in the group was by no means a given.

The Napoli midfielder's absence with an illness looked set to dominate discussion before Saturday's opening game against Haiti.

Image source, PA Media

Calum Macdonald
BBC Scotland in Boston

Relief all round as Scott McTominay trains in Foxboro.

Fantastic news for Scotland fans and Steve Clarke, but the big question now is who misses out tomorrow night against Haiti.

The midfield worked well last Saturday against Bolivia, with Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, McTominay and Christie in there. The notable omission being John McGinn who was rested after a long club season with Aston Villa.

Is it a straight choice between McGinn and Bournemouth's Ryan Christie for the final spot in Clarke's midfield?

We'll never get a consensus, but a thumbs up for McGinn, thumbs down for Christie?

Or get in touch if you think Clarke should change something totally different...

Image source, PA Media

Back to the present day and a bit of welcome good news for Scotland supporters everywhere...

If the Mayor of Boston wants an idea of what to expect over the coming days, here is a few images of the scenes in Munich before Scotland's opening game at Euro 2024...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Megan Bonar
Reporting from Boston

There have been some concerns in Boston about where Scotland fans will go as the city's main fan zone is oversubscribed and a huge number of travelling fans do not have match tickets.

The Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, said her office was working on opening a "consumption area" for supporters. But it is not clear whether it will be ready in time for Scotland's opening fixture with Haiti at 21:00 local time on Saturday.

Many fans are just happy to be in Boston and soaking up the atmosphere.

Jim Brown from Edinburgh said: "It's almost as good as at home. The beer has actually got a head on it here. A lot of US cities don't have that feeling. I don't think Boston truly knows what is about to hit it."

For Nikki Smith, from Keith in Moray, a lost suitcase has been an unlucky start to the trip.

"My kilt is in the bag so I don't have that and my contact lenses are in the bag so I can't see the game but we'll make it work," he said.

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

So, it's a bit of a cliche, but it had to be done.

Boston's famous for many things - one of them being it's absolutely roasting, which I'm finding out to my cost - with the biggest potentially being the bar Cheers, famous from the TV show... erm... Cheers.

After eventually shutting the laptop, I ventured out to find the local spot for Norm, Cliff and the gang (ask your parents, kids).

Instead I found two dozen Scottish people chanting along to Bits 'n' Pieces.

Image source, Scott Mullen

I wonder if Gordon Ramsay has paid a visit to Boston's most famous hostelry?

It would be rude not to, wouldn't it?

Lewis Irons
BBC Scotland in Boston

The celebrity chef has been spotted arriving here at the training ground. Pulling out all the stops to solve Scott McTominay’s stomach bug?!

Megan Bonar
Reporting from Boston

"Big" Jay Howard and his brother Ed Murray, who are in charge of security at Boston's only Scottish pub, The Haven, have been given a crash course in Scottish culture ahead of Scotland's games in the city.

"It blew my mind," Jay said. "I came in yesterday and then these guys were wearing these kilts and they just started singing for no reason. I love the energy."

As an American football fan, Jay said the crowd was very different to what he is used to.

"This is a whole new world for me. Bostonians are excited, the bars are booming and it's bringing a real buzz to the city."

Lewis Irons
BBC Scotland in Boston

We’ve made it to the training ground, home to MLS side New England Revolution. Security checks before being let in here.

The team coach just arrived and we’ll get a look at training shortly.

Image source, Lewis Irons

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

No prizes for guessing what the hot topic was over breakfast at BBC Sport Scotland HQ in Boston...no, not whether to have the crab cake benedict again this morning or to give the lobster a go.

Wait, that makes it sound like we're staying at some plush, five-star resort. We're not, honest guv.

Anyway, of course we were chatting about the fitness or otherwise of Scott McTominay. On one hand, his absence would solve the conundrum of who to leave out of the midfield that started against Bolivia to get John McGinn in. But on the other, Scotland will desperately want their talismanic midfielder available to start this momentous fixture.

Stay tuned for an update on this from Steve Clarke at his news conference in a few hours. I went for the lobster by the way.

Right, let's switch our attention to Scotland.

The players are due out for a training session soon and there's a big burning question... will Scott McTominay be involved?