Heart of Midlothian captain Lawrence Shankland has been recalled to the Scotland squad for the pivotal World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark later this month.
The 30-year-old striker, who last featured for Scotland in the Nations League victory over Poland 12 months ago, returns to Steve Clarke’s pool alongside goalkeeper Scott Bain and defenders Ross McCrorie and Josh Doig.
Kieron Bowie of Hibernian misses out to make room for Shankland’s return, with Che Adams of Torino, Birmingham City’s Lyndon Dykes and George Hirst of Ipswich Town the other strikers in the squad.
Shankland has formed a fine partnership up front for Hearts with new signing Claudio Braga this season, with his goal in Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Dundee taking him top of the domestic scoring charts.
Bristol City’s McCrorie, who made his sole Scotland appearance against Gibraltar last year, returns to provide additional cover at right-back, with Aaron Hickey only just back from the injury he sustained during the last international window.
Derby County’s Max Johnston has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring injury while Nathan Patterson of Everton needs a hernia operation.
Sassuolo’s Doig – one of six Serie A-based players named in the 25-man pool – missed out on the October squad but was a part of the group in September and will vie for the left-back position with captain Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney.
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who has started all four qualifiers, is missing through injury so Falkirk’s Bain – the 33-year-old who won the last of his three caps in San Marino in 2019 – returns.
Craig Gordon is likely to fill in for Gunn, but the 42-year-old has been supplanted by summer signing Alexander Schwolow as Hearts’ goalkeeper this season.
The eight midfielders named by Clarke are the same as those in the squad for the hard-working victories against Greece and Belarus in October.
Billy Gilmour came off after 38 minutes of Napoli’s 0-0 draw with Como at the weekend but takes his place in the squad alongside club-mate Scott McTominay.
Scotland, who have not reached the finals of the World Cup since 1998, travel to Piraeus to face Greece on 15 November before playing group leaders Denmark at Hampden Park three days later.
Clarke’s side are second in Group C after three wins and a draw and have already secured at least a place in the World Cup play-offs in March.
With the Danes having a superior goal difference and facing bottom side Belarus next, Scotland realistically need to at least draw in Piraeus to set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Hampden.
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian), Liam Kelly (Rangers)
Defenders: Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al-Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese)
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham City), George Hirst (Ipswich Town), Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian)
