SCOTLAND manager Alex McLeish has called up Scott Bain, David Bates, Ryan Jack and Scott McTominay for the Nations League games against Albania and Israel after a string of call-offs.
Charlie Mulgrew of Blackburn Rovers and Kevin McDonald of Fulham, who had both been nursing rib and hamstring injuries respectively, pulled out on Saturday after failing to play for their club sides.
Elsewhere, Stephen O’Donnell, the Kilmarnock right back, had to withdraw after a hamstring injury kept him out of the Ladbrokes Premiership match against Hearts at Tynecastle.
And Craig Gordon, who has been struggling with a knee problem, joined them yesterday as a result of the hip injury he sustained during Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig in the Europa League at Parkhead on Thursday evening.
McLeish, whose side needs to finish top of Group C1 to secure a Euro 2020 play-off place, has called up Gordon’s club mate Bain, who kept a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Stadium yesterday.
Bain played for his country in the friendly against Mexico in the Azteca Stadium back in June.
Elsewhere, Jack, who helped Rangers beat Motherwell 7-1 at Ibrox yesterday, has also been called up. The midfielder has played twice for his country, against the Netherlands last season and Belgium in September.
McTominay, who last played for Manchester United on October 6, was omitted from the original 23-man squad when it was named last week.
Bates, who joined German club Hamburg from Rangers in the summer, has been called up for the first time. He has been a regular starter in Bundesliga 2 this season.
Scotland, who are in second place in Group C1 after two games, play Albania in Shkoder on Saturday evening and then take on Israel at Hampden a week tomorrow.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here