Monday 25 September 2017 15:54, UK
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has been named in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad to face Slovakia and Slovenia next month.
The 26-year-old, who has impressed for the Sky Bet Championship pace-setters, was previously in the squad for friendly internationals against Denmark and Canada, but was an unused substitute on both occasions.
Cooper is in for Russell Martin, who has not featured for Norwich since a 4-0 defeat by Millwall on August 26.
Another Norwich player, Steven Naismith, and Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney have also dropped out of Strachan's 25-man squad .
On Cooper, who represented Scotland at youth level, Strachan said: "He's playing well. He's playing in a winning side and he is a big influence on the side, he is the captain now. That's big progress for Leeds, which is good, and
himself.
"I probably should have had him in the last squad to be honest but I made sure I didn't make the same mistake again. Because of his performances, he is back in the squad. He has been highly-rated by my scouting staff and myself over the past couple of months.
"It's always good that the players come here on a high, and hopefully most of them are on a high. Some are not at the top of their game but they can still bring things to the squad."
Stoke City midfielder Darren Fletcher returns after missing the last two games through injury while Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher is also included.
Scotland sit fourth in their World Cup qualifying group, one point behind second-placed Slovakia who they face at Hampden Park on October 5, live on Sky Sports Football.
Scotland travel to Slovenia three days later and need to win both games to be in with a realistic chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
Strachan is confident that the new-found belief in his squad after some morale-boosting results will stand the in good stead next month.
He said: "I spoke to one or two lads over the past few weeks and they are really looking forward to this. They think this is huge and they all want to be involved.
"Between them and the five million people who are supporting us, and I know they are supporting us because I bump into them every day no matter where I am in the world, we are looking forward to a great occasion.
"We believe destiny is in our own hands for these two games and, the way the players have been performing, we relish the challenge."
Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Slovenia
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Celtic), Allan McGregor (Hull City), Jordan Archer (Millwall)
Defenders: Ikechi Anya (Derby County), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Liam Cooper (Leeds Utd), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Steven Whittaker (Hibernian)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (Stoke City), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), James Forrest (Celtic), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Hibernian), Matt Phillips (West Brom), Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United), Robert Snodgrass (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Chris Martin (Derby County), Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic)
