Kristi Montgomery has been handed a first Scotland call-up after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean dropped out of the Nations League squad. The Blackburn Rovers midfielder, 22, has been promoted from the under-21s by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli for Scotland’s games against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia.
Montgomery has started all eight Championship matches for Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn side this season and has played in all 10 of Blackburn’s games. Celtic defender Tierney and Norwich midfielder McLean, who have 119 international caps between them, are absent, while Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland were unavailable before Pocognoli made his selections.
Montgomery is the eighth uncapped player in the 27-strong group, joining Luke Graham, Robbie Ure, Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh. Oli McBurnie, Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson were recalled, and Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour returns after missing the World Cup through injury.
Dominic Hyam, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Grant Hanley, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart are among those overlooked by Pocognoli. Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher is in the under-21s.
Montgomery has been on Blackburn’s books since the age of nine and qualifies for Scotland through his mother. He has represented Scotland at under-18, under-20 and under-21 level. Blackburn are 16th in the Championship after finishing 20th last season, which was Montgomery’s breakthrough season. Club manager Tony Mowbray has praised him, saying: ‘He’s an amazing young footballer who is playing in the battleground of the match in the middle of the pitch and is generally coming out with the ball after winning every duel he goes into.’
Revised Scotland squad: Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City). Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City). Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese). Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts).