Jon McLaughlin has a new rival in the battle to be named Scotland’s first-choice goalkeeper after Steve Clarke recalled David Marshall in his first squad.
McLaughlin was in the squad for Alex McLeish’s final games in charge against Kazakhstan or San Marino.
With the three goalkeepers named only having a cap each, it looked like an opportunity for McLaughlin to state his claim as the No.1, but he was overlooked for both games, as was club-mate Lewis Morgan.
Both have been named in Clarke’s first squad to face Cyprus and Belgium.
Celtic’s Scott Bain was preferred in both matches, trebling his caps haul. He has also been called up.
And McLaughlin faces stiffer competition with Hull City’s David Marshall recalled to the fold.
The 34-year-old Hull City goalkeeper was this week linked with a surprise move to Liverpool, to replace former Black Cat Simon Mignolet as back-up.
He has 27 caps, but none since 2016.
Liam Kelly is the fourth goalkeeper in the squad.
McLaughlin, who won his only cap last summer, has been in fine form for Sunderland this season, although the team’s open style and the quality of the defenders in front of him mean it has not been completely reflected by clean sheets.
In the build-up to Sunday’s League One play-off final against Charlton Athletic, central defender Tom Flanagan spoke about how his team-mate had not had the credit he deserved .
“I think he was pretty hard done-by not to get any of the accolades for team of the year,” he said.
Winger Morgan spent the second half of last season on loan from Celtic.
There is no place for Dylan McGeouch, another called up for the first time to last summer’s tour.
