Angus Gunn puts 'summer from hell' behind him with Scotland clean sheet and new Forest deal

Angus Gunn said he had turned a difficult summer into a fresh start after helping Scotland earn a goalless draw with Denmark in Copenhagen and speaking of a renewed focus on World Cup qualifying.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper, who was released by Norwich at the end of last season and suffered an ankle injury in a June friendly at Hampden Park, kept a clean sheet after being named by manager Steve Clarke ahead of Zander Clark and Liam Kelly.

Gunn said the selection — and the shutout — represented a turning point after what he described as "a long summer". He recalled being told by Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper that his four-year association with the club was at an end following the Canaries' final league match and then sustaining an ankle injury in the early minutes of the Hampden friendly against Iceland, which required him to leave the field on a stretcher.

The injury came at a time when Gunn was out of contract and seeking a new club. He said discussions with potential suitors, including reported interest from Antalyaspor and West Brom, did not materialize and he attended Professional Footballers' Association free-agent trials before agreeing a one-year deal with Premier League side Nottingham Forest. Gunn had not yet played for Forest when he joined the Scotland squad for fixtures against Denmark and Belarus.

Clarke's decision to select Gunn over Clark and Kelly for the Copenhagen fixture provided the goalkeeper with the chance to demonstrate his readiness. Gunn, who conceded no goals in the goalless draw, praised the collective defensive display and said the performance gave him confidence ahead of Scotland's next qualifier in Belarus.

"It definitely wasn't a great experience. It's been a difficult time all round knowing that I was out of contract going into that game and then picking the injury up," Gunn said. "Thankfully, it was nothing too serious. I had to have a lot of patience." He added that training daily with Forest's goalkeeping staff and players had helped him stay sharp and that he had been working closely with the club's goalkeeping coach since joining shortly before the season began.

Gunn acknowledged he is not the first-choice goalkeeper at Forest, where Matz Sels has been preferred, but said the short-term contract offered the opportunity to remain in English football while seeking regular minutes. He said representing Scotland offered a platform to regain match sharpness and stake a claim for future club opportunities.

Looking ahead to the home-and-away World Cup qualifying fixtures, Gunn emphasised Scotland's priorities of securing points away and building momentum for matches at Hampden Park. He noted the absence of a vocal home crowd for opponents could be helpful in Belarus, drawing on experience of playing in empty stadiums during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scotland travel to face Belarus next, with Gunn and the squad focused on maintaining the defensive solidity displayed in Copenhagen. The national team, under Clarke, continues to pursue qualification for the World Cup, with an emphasis on results on the road and turning home fixtures into decisive wins.

Gunn's week — from being released and injured to signing for a Premier League club and keeping a clean sheet for his country — underlined rapidly changing fortunes in professional football. He said he intended to build on the performance in Denmark and continue pushing for both club and international opportunities as Scotland pursue their qualifying campaign.