Graeme Shinnie and Kevin McDonald have been included in Gordon Strachan’s squad for Scotland’s Euro 2016 qualifying double-header against Poland and Gibraltar.
The uncapped Shinnie, 24, has been in good form for the Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen since moving from Inverness in the summer, playing in midfield for the Dons although he is better known as a left-back.
The Wolves midfielder McDonald, a former Scotland Under-21s player, is uncapped but the 26-year-old was in the squad for the qualifier against Germany a year ago.
Strachan said: “Kevin was with us last year. He has had a great season again with Wolves. I’ve seen him recently, he is getting better and better as he gets older although he is not an old man. I think he deserves to be here. He has been unfortunate because we are strong in central midfield area.”
Of Shinnie, Strachan added: “I have known about Graeme for a couple of years now. But again we have been strong in the areas he has been playing. But he has played so well it would be great to have a look at him. He can cover many positions, that is handy and I look forward to working with him.
“He has had a successful season, he has been in a winning side so that helps when you bring people in who have been on a high, and he is on a high at the moment.”
Charlie Mulgrew has also been named in the squad despite the Celtic manager Ronny Deila saying that would be unlikely because of a thigh injury.
Strachan said: “I spoke to Charlie and we agreed to put him in the squad and he will tell us in the next couple of days whether he can make it or can’t make it. In conjunction with Ronny, Celtic and myself, we will see what is the best for the player.
“Charlie is three players, really. He can play in three different positions and he has become a huge player for us. But we are lucky, we have good players to call on if Charlie can’t make it. We would love Charlie to be here, he is good about the place, he is a terrific player.”
Squad to face Poland and Gibraltar
Goalkeepers Craig Gordon (Celtic), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Allan McGregor (Hull City)
Defenders Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Gordon Greer (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)
Midfielders Ikechi Anya (Watford), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (West Brom), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Hull City), James Morrison (West Brom), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth AFC), Johnny Russell (Derby County)
Forwards Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby), Steven Naismith (Everton), Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers)
