Fox handed Scotland spot

Fox: Scotland call

George Burley has handed Danny Fox and Robert Snodgrass their first Scotland call-ups for the friendly in Japan on 10th October.

Celtic full-back Fox, who has represented England at Under 21 level, has been rewarded for his fine start to the season in the SPL, while winger Snodgrass has impressed for League One leaders Leeds and the U21 side.

The Cheshire-born defender - who joined the Hoops from Coventry in the summer - has switched allegiances and qualifies for selection through a Scottish grandparent.

Derek Riordan, whose one and only cap for Scotland came against Austria back in 2005, will be hoping to impress in the Far East.

Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson is back in Burley's plans after recovering from a serious knee injury sustained last November, but his Ibrox team-mates David Weir, Kenny Miller and Neil Alexander are all absent from the squad.

Injured Birmingham winger James McFadden is also a notable omission but there is a recall for Charlie Adam, while Ross Wallace is in line to earn his first Scotland cap.

Scotland have missed out on next summer's World Cup finals and are now building towards qualification for the 2012 European Championship.

Scotland squad:

Goalkeepers: Gordon (Sunderland), Langfield (Aberdeen), Marshall (Cardiff).

Defenders: Barr (Falkirk), Berra (Wolves), Caldwell (Celtic), Fox (Celtic), Hutton (Tottenham), McManus (Celtic) Whittaker (Rangers)

Midfielders: Adam (Blackpool), Brown (Celtic), Dorrans (West Brom), Fletcher (Manchester United), Maloney (Celtic), Snodgrass (Leeds United), Thomson (Rangers), Wallace (Preston North End),

Forwards: S Fletcher (Burnley), Naismith (Rangers), O'Connor (Birmingham City), Riordan (Hibernian).