Monday 18 May 2015 16:49, UK
Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain has been handed his first call-up to Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad ahead of the friendly against Qatar on June 5 and the European Qualifier with the Republic of Ireland eight days later.
Bain, 24, has been outstanding for Paul Hartley's side this season and he is joined in the party by in-form Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths, who won the last of his four caps against Belgium in September 2013.
And Griffiths' team-mate Charlie Mulgrew has been included in the squad despite playing just 45 minutes of first-team football since last December due to a knee injury, but there was no place for fellow-Hoops Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven who have impressed since leaving Dundee United in January.
But Stoke City's Charlie Adam, who has not featured for his country since the Warsaw friendly with Poland in March of last year, has been recalled following a fine spell in the midfield for Mark Hughes' side.
Dropping out of Strachan's plans for the upcoming double-header are Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor and strikers Stevie May, Jordan Rhodes and Ross McCormack.
Scotland will use the friendly with the 2022 World Cup hosts at Hibernian's Easter Road as vital preparation for their trip to Dublin for their vital Group D qualifier.
On Bain's first inclusion in a Scotland squad, Strachan said: “It was a bit of my thinking, but mostly goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart's thinking.
"Young Scott has been playing well this year. Jim has been impressed with him and he believes he’s a player for the future, but it’s not only the future, it’s now.
"He’ll be working with two excellent goalkeepers and that will benefit him and the enthusiasm of Scott, I’m sure, will benefit the other two goalkeepers."
Scotland Squad:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Dundee), Craig Gordon (Celtic), David Marshall (Cardiff)
Defenders: Christophe Berra (Ipswich), Craig Forsyth (Derby), Gordon Greer (Brighton), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen), Andrew Robertson (Hull), Steven Whittaker (Norwich).
Midfielders: Charlie Adam (Stoke), Ikechi Anya (Watford), Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (West Brom), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire), James Morrison (West Brom), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth)
Forwards: Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Steven Naismith (Everton), Johnny Russell (Derby)
