Scotland recall McTominay as Penrice earns first senior call-up

Scotland have recalled Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Che Adams for their remaining Nations League group fixtures, with James Penrice receiving his first senior call-up. BBC Sport reported that head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has named a 26-player squad for the home meeting with North Macedonia and the away match against Switzerland.

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Penrice joins the national squad after impressing at Rangers, where the 27-year-old left-back is on loan from AEK Athens. He is one of nine defenders selected, alongside players including Tierney, Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey. Kristi Montgomery also keeps his place after being brought into the previous squad as a late addition. The uncapped Blackburn Rovers midfielder, 22, has started all but one of his club’s Championship matches this season.

McTominay returns following a spell in which he has scored four goals in seven appearances for Napoli after recovering from a minor heart procedure, according to the BBC. Adams has also been back among the goals at Torino. His two goals in five Serie A appearances since a short absence with an adductor problem have doubled his total for the season.

The returning players are accompanied by several departures from the previous selection. Scott McKenna and Kenny McLean are unavailable because of injuries, while Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, Colby Donovan and James Wilson have been left out. Pocognoli had used an expanded group of 28 for the opening four matches but has reduced that number by two for this window.

Despite the smaller squad, the coach has retained four goalkeepers: Scott Bain, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly and Jon McCracken. The midfield selection includes Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour and John McGinn alongside McTominay and Montgomery. Adams is among six forwards, with Kieron Bowie, Findlay Curtis, Ben Gannon-Doak, Oli McBurnie and Robbie Ure also selected.

Scotland enter the final two games third in Group B1, after a campaign that has included home defeats by Switzerland and Slovenia. Switzerland have taken maximum points, while Slovenia sit three points above Scotland. The BBC reported that Scotland need at least four points to retain any chance of finishing second and reaching the promotion play-offs; a single point would remove the threat of relegation.