Saturday 17 March 2018 18:35, UK
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has been called into the Scotland senior squad for the friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary, the Scottish Football Association has announced.
Scotland manager Alex McLeish had previously said he would include the 21-year-old midfielder in his squad after being convinced by his "passion" to play for Scotland opposed to England - the country of his birth - after qualifying for the national side through his Scottish father.
McLeish said of McTominay on Monday: "His father's a Scotsman so there's Scottish in his blood. Everybody's got an opinion, that's what football is all about and there's going to be pros and cons. I think it's a very positive situation for Scotland.
"I went to see him against Crystal Palace and Jose (Mourinho) took him off at half-time and maybe people will jump on the back of that and say 'why are we picking him?' But he had a fantastic game against Liverpool, such a mature performance and we believe he has a massive future with Scotland."
The Tartan Army face Costa Rica on March 23 at Hampden Park, before travelling to Budapest to play Hungary four days later.
McTominay is one of six new call-ups to McLeish's first Scotland squad since his return, along with Hearts goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, Wolves left-back Barry Douglas and Hibernian midfielder Dylan McGeouch.
Scotland U21 players Oli McBurnie - currently on loan at Barnsley from Swansea - and Aberdeen's Scott McKenna have also been named in the senior squad for the first time.
Millwall 'keeper Jordan Archer, Rangers winger Jamie Murphy - on loan from Brighton - and Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald have also been recalled to the squad, having previously been uncapped.
McLeish said of the new faces in the squad: "It's a great opportunity and they've been doing well with their clubs, that's why you get picked for your country, ultimately.
"We just want them to see them come in, and if they're capped for the first time then it's a great honour but we want them to play how they are playing for their clubs.
"We want them to challenge themselves to become even better and finally the ultimate goal is obviously qualification [for Euro 2020]."
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer, Alan McGregor, Jon McLaughlin.
Defenders: Barry Douglas, Grant Hanley, Russell Martin, Scott McKenna, Charlie Mulgrew, Callum Paterson, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney.
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong, Tom Cairney, James Forrest, Ryan Fraser, Kevin McDonald, Dylan McGeouch, John McGinn, Calum McGregor, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay, Jamie Murphy, Matt Ritchie.
Forwards: Ryan Christie, Jason Cummings, Oliver McBurnie, Matt Phillips.
