For over a century, Fenway Park has hosted baseball legends who defined the sport.

Located near the Charles River, stars like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Cy Young all left their legacy at this historic venue known for its sporting excellence.

Yet on the outskirts of Boston this weekend, Steve Clarke could deliver a major selection surprise that would challenge even the sharpest observers.

Much attention this week has centered on the fans' global travels, celebrations and national unity.

However, a critical team decision looms that could determine whether the momentum continues.

Scotland face three matches but cannot afford early setbacks. Intense focus rests on securing victory in the opener against Haiti at Boston Stadium on Sunday (02:00 BST), making the starting lineup vital.

Clarke is expected to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, rarely used but effective in the recent 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia. That match saw John McGinn among the substitutes.

With Scott McTominay sidelined by illness earlier, the question arises whether Clarke might omit one of his key players from the most significant fixture in nearly 30 years.

The concern over McTominay has eased since Thursday.

Reports indicated he missed the team bus and trained separately under medical supervision, but he returned to sessions on Friday.

Clarke praised him as fully fit and prepared, while captain Andy Robertson light-heartedly suggested the absence was attention-seeking.

McTominay remains a focal point for the squad, and even at reduced capacity his leadership and impact could prove essential for a strong start.

Clarke highlighted the need for depth, noting the squad must find additional contributors to achieve success across the tournament.

Reflecting on the Bolivia match, John McGinn started on the bench and was also omitted from the win over Curacao.

Excluding him would be surprising given his record of 20 goals and 10 assists in 86 caps, plus his standout season that culminated in European success with Aston Villa.

Yet reluctance exists to alter a midfield featuring McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie that performed strongly.

Former forward James McFadden noted the oddity of a Scotland side without McGinn but suggested he could still influence later games.

Ex-midfielder Leanne Crichton advocated resting McGinn initially due to his demanding schedule and prior fatigue at major tournaments, questioning the necessity of starting him immediately.