Uncapped Pair Named In Scotland Squad

Graeme Shinnie and Kevin McDonald are included in Gordon Strachan's squad for Scotland's crunch Euro 2016 qualifying double-header against Poland and Gibraltar.

Uncapped Shinnie, 24, has been in good form for Premiership leaders Aberdeen since moving from Inverness in the summer, playing in midfield for the Dons although he is better known as a left-back.

Wolves midfielder McDonald, a former under-21 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 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."

Charlie Mulgrew has also been named in the squad despite Celtic manager Ronny Deila saying that would be unlikely due to a thigh injury that has kept him out of the Hoops team recently.

Strachan said: "I spoke to Charlie and we agreed to put him in the squad and he will tell us in the next couple of days whether he can make it or can't make it.

"In conjunction with Ronny, Celtic and myself, we will see what is the best for the player.

"Charlie is three players, really. He can play in three different positions and he has become a huge player for us.

"But we are lucky, we have good players to call on if Charlie can't make it.

"We would love Charlie to be here, he is good about the place, he is a terrific player."