Scotland include Graeme Shinnie and Kevin McDonald in squad
Tuesday 29 September 2015 15:27, UK
Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie and Wolves' Kevin McDonald have been included in Gordon Strachan's squad for Scotland's crunch Euro 2016 qualifying double-header against Poland and Gibraltar.
Uncapped Shinnie has been in good form for the Premiership leaders since moving from Inverness Caley in the summer.
The 24-year-old established himself as a left-back at Caley Thistle, but he has been playing in a midfield role for Aberdeen.
Midfielder McDonald, a former U21 player, is uncapped but the 26-year-old was in the squad for the qualifier against Germany a year ago.
On the inclusion of McDonald and Shinnie, Scotland boss Gordon Strachan said: "Kevin was with us last year. He has had a great season again with Wolves.
"I've seen him recently, he is getting better and better as he gets older although he is not an old man.
"I think he deserves to be here. He has been unfortunate because we are strong in central midfield area.
"I have known about Graeme for a couple of years now. But again we have been strong in the areas he has been playing.
"But he has played so well it would be great to have a look at him. He can cover many positions, that is handy and I look forward to working with him.
"He has had a successful season, he has been in a winning side so that helps when you bring people in who have been on a high, and he is on a high at the moment."
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon, David Marshall and Allan McGregor
Defenders: Christophe Berra, Gordon Greer, Grant Hanley, Alan Hutton, Russell Martin, Charlie Mulgrew, Andrew Robertson, Graeme Shinnie and Steven Whittaker
Midfielders Ikechi Anya, Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, James Forrest, Shaun Maloney, James Morrison (suspended v Poland), James McArthur, Kevin McDonald, Matt Ritchie and Johnny Russell.
Forwards: Steven Fletcher, Leigh Griffiths, Chris Martin, Steven Naismith and Jordan Rhodes.
Live Euro 2016 Qualifiers
Watch Scotland's European Qualifiers against Poland and Gibraltar live on Sky Sports next month.
