Scotland: James Penrice included in Sebastien Pocognoli's squad with Scott McTominay back for Nations League double-header
James Penrice has impressed since joining Rangers on loan from AEK Athens; Scott McTominay and Che Adams return from injury; Blackburn's Kristi Montgomery keeps his place; Scotland host North Macedonia on November 13 with final Nations League game away to Switzerland three days later
Tuesday 3 November 2026 12:59, UK
James Penrice has been handed his first Scotland call-up with Scott McTominay returning for their crucial Nations League double-header against North Macedonia and Switzerland.
Rangers defender Penrice has impressed since joining on loan from AEK Athens and is called up in place of the injured Josh Doig.
McTominay is recalled after missing the last camp due to minor heart surgery. Since returning the 29-year-old has started the past seven matches for Napoli, scoring four goals.
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Torino striker Che Adams also returns after missing Sebastien Pocognoli's first squad with a thigh strain.
Blackburn's Kristi Montgomery keeps his place after being drafted in to replace Kenny McLean in the last squad. The Norwich midfielder remains out, although Celtic's Kieran Tierney returns.
Dinamo Zagreb defender Scott McKenna, who played three out of the four games in the group before being sent off in the win against North Macedonia, is out injured. There is no place for Celtic's Colby Donovan this time as Pocognoli cuts his squad to 26 from 28.
If Andy Robertson plays the next two Scotland matches, he will move on to 103 appearances and become the country's most capped player, surpassing Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Oli
Scotland must take at least four points from their final two games in League B1 to have a chance of even finishing second.
They also need Slovenia to drop points against North Macedonia and Switzerland to have a chance of reaching the promotion play-offs.
Relegation to League C is also still a possibility if they lose their first game at Hampden Park.
Pocognoli: Penrice is 'logical choice'
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli:
"We have a list of players, like I said in my first camp, that we select regarding the performance in the clubs. But also the style of play or the way that we want to play. We have some missing players around the left side.
"Combined with his quality and what we are looking for, it's a logical choice for me. He can be very useful for the system that we want to play and also I think he deserves it.
"We have plenty of experience back in the squad, with Scott [McTominay], with Che [Adams] and with Kieran [Tierney], who is also back.
"We have some experience that will be useful for this camp. To also embrace the young lads, because we still have a young squad with many players who are not on a lot of caps.
"The first camp was a massive one. It was like three or four weeks for the staff, maybe more because we prepared this.
"So this camp is like a six-month experience package. There's no reason to change everything because I was happy with the camp.
"The main word is continuity and after that camp we still have a long time to analyse for the match games.
"And then it will be a new journey."
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City)
Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), James Penrice (Rangers), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), Che Adams (Torino)
Scotland's Nations League fixtures
Scotland vs North Macedonia - November 13, kick-off 7.45pm
Switzerland vs Scotland - November 16, kick-off 7.45pm
