Gunn's Forest spell has produced almost no match rhythm. A report says he joined in August, waited until February for his debut and made just one appearance, replacing Matz Sels at half-time against Crystal Palace before helping preserve a clean sheet.
That is a small sample, but it explains why his reported departure would not automatically alter Scotland's plans. His national-team standing was built elsewhere.
The timing is stark. Gunn could enter a major tournament as an outgoing player, with no settled club role behind him. For a goalkeeper, regular football usually matters, particularly when handling crosses, distribution and pressure over a full campaign.
The report says Gunn has collected 22 caps since switching allegiance from England in 2023. It also says he played the full match in Scotland's final warm-up, a 4-0 win over Bolivia, after Craig Gordon started the preceding fixture and Liam Kelly appeared late in a victory over Curaçao.
Those choices keep the competition open, but the latest start gives Gunn momentum. Clarke's decision appears to be based on continuity and recent international work rather than Forest minutes alone.
Haiti will provide the clearest answer. If Gunn starts, the match will test whether his international authority can compensate for a season spent largely outside the team. If he does not, Scotland's selection debate will immediately become one of the tournament's first storylines.
For Gunn, the opener is both a World Cup audition and a shop window. With his Forest future reportedly ending before kickoff, his next save could carry consequences well beyond Scotland's first result.