The Bristol City defender has not been a long-established international regular, but his recent involvement matters.
That is often how Clarke works. He tends to reward trust, tactical discipline and players who can slot into the system without fuss. McCrorie, now 28, may not arrive with the profile of a headline name, but he appears to offer familiarity and form at the right moment.
Scotland’s preparation looks clear and purposeful.
Those fixtures should give Clarke a final chance to sharpen structure, test depth and settle any undecided roles. For fringe players, that period can be decisive even after the squad list is announced, especially with fitness and balance always under review before a major tournament.
Scotland open Group C against Haiti in Boston on 14 June before facing Morocco on 19 June and Brazil in Miami on 24 June.
It is a varied group: a high-pressure opener, a technically demanding second game and then one of football’s traditional heavyweights. That makes defensive reliability especially valuable, which only strengthens the case for players who already seem to have Clarke’s trust.
The next step is simple: squad day. Once 19 May arrives, the focus will shift quickly from selection debate to whether Scotland can turn a long-awaited return into a tournament run worth remembering.