Scotland squad: Charlie Mulgrew and England cap Matt Philips drafted in for Slovenia fixture
Blackpool midfielder Matt Phillips has been called up for Scotland. Picture: AFP/Getty Images
CELTIC defender Charlie Mulgrew and England Under-20 international Matt Phillips have been called up for the first time by Craig Levein for Scotland’s friendly international in Slovenia next week.
The Scottish Football Association are awaiting clearance from FIFA to select Blackpool winger Phillips, but expect to receive that this week.
Mulgrew’s cause was championed by Celtic manager Neil Lennon after he scored during his side’s 5-0 win against Hibernian yesterday.
Phillips, 20, was born in Aylesbury and has represented England at under-19 and under-20 level but has opted to play for Scotland, for whom he qualifies through his grandparents.
Scotland manager Levein said: “I’m very excited about the young lad. Great things are expected of him.”
Dead-ball specialist Mulgrew, 25, has scored four goals this season and recently captained Celtic when Scott Brown was injured.
“He has been in good form,” Levein said.
“I tried to bring him into the squad for the game in Cyprus but he had an injury. He deserves to be in the squad. He has been excellent.”
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who returned to reserve team action in January after 11 months out following a knee injury, is back in the squad.
The former Hearts keeper, 29, has not played first-team football since a home defeat to Tottenham in February 12, 2011.
Levein said: “He’s an important player for us. He’s had a terrible time with injury but he’s back playing reserve matches and it’s a good time to get him involved.”
Celtic winger James Forrest is in the squad, meaning he will not be available for Scotland Under-21s’ UEFA qualifier against Holland on the same night, February 29.
But Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes has been left out to give Billy Stark his goalscoring services.
Forrest is one of only four Clydesdale Bank Premier League players in the 24-man squad, along with team-mates Brown and Mulgrew and Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
Meanwhile, Levein revealed “nothing has changed on the Steven Fletcher front”.
The Wolves striker has not been selected since opting out of the Carling Nations Cup tie against Northern Ireland, via text message, a year ago.
The Scotland squad for the friendly v Slovenia on February 29 at Bonifika Stadium, Koper:
Goalkeepers:
Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
Matt Gilks (Blackpool)
Defenders:
Phil Bardsley (Sunderland)
Alan Hutton (Aston Villa)
Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic)
Christophe Berra (Wolves)
Gary Caldwell (Wigan)
Grant Hanley (Blackburn)
Russell Martin (Norwich)
Midfielders:
Charlie Adam (Liverpool)
Barry Bannan (Aston Villa)
Scott Brown (Celtic)
Don Cowie (Cardiff)
Graham Dorrans (West Brom)
James Morrison (West Brom)
Robert Snodgrass (Leeds)
Barry Robson (Middlesbrough)
Matt Phillips (Blackpool)
Forwards:
Jamie Mackie (QPR)
James Forrest (Celtic)
David Goodwillie (Blackburn)
Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton)
Kenny Miller (Cardiff)
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Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
donald marr
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:22 AMNot only biased Plank,stupid as well.
donald marr
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:59 AM#8 You are a disgrace for suggesting the manager goes running after the overpaid little prima donna ,Fletcher. It's his call . #2 More to the point when is Fletcher going to grow up.? And possibly yourself? #5 Ian Black ? Not Scotland class,nowhere near it either. Plank ,you constantly prove you know little about football and this piece of bias ,just proves it once and for all.
pfhs77
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:10 PMHope he plays Mulgrew from the start and gives him the chance due to his form of late. Dont think he will though. Might struggle at international level but desperately need a left footed full back. Sick of seeing right sided players in there just because he has nae baws to drop them for naturally left sided players. Levein is a disgrace for not even attempting to speak to Fletcher. Scored against most of the top EPL sides in a very poor Wolves team but insists on being a child about the whole thing. Also what is the Rhodes omission all about?? Surely the whole point of friendlies is to tinker with the squad so when you play the qualifiers you know what you have at your disposal. Nae disrespect to Billy Stark but we havent qualified for a major tournament for nearly 15 years and he putting the 21's first! I know the undre 21's are important but not as important as the main squad. I will support Scotland through anything but cant see us goin anywhere with Levein in charge.
Leisure_suit_Larry
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:28 PMComment removed by moderator
SeeEmmEss
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 01:13 PMA wll-deserved call-up for Charlie. If he represents his country half as well as he's played for his club the last 18 months, he's sure to be asked back for more.
Hen Broon
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 12:53 PMWhat has Jamie Murphy got to do to get a call up? If he had an Irish granny & they were after him I'm sure he would be in! My not sorting the FLETCHER situation he is undermining his own statement that he would do whatever he needs to do to make Scotland sucessfull. ####BIASED but Ian Black should be in as well.
Milk Lemonade Chocolate
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 12:10 PMWell done finally to Craig Levein, giving a well deserved call up to Chico Mulgrew. 20+ clean sheets and 8 goals this season. Oh he plays left back.......
Magnum
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:52 AMA limp biscuit of a performance by Her Majesty's(revenue & customs) own XI on Saturday. It could have have inspired instead it further depressed. The Administrator will be spoiled for choice on the contracts he chooses to terminate at the end of the week. Word of advice to SuperA, all he has to do is tell them to keep MacGregor, Davis, Edu. Laffers and Naisy the rest can go and be replaced by remnants from the transfer dustbin that Celtic get their journeymen from.
1956
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:35 AMWhen is Leven going to grow uo and speak to Fletcher
Magnum
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:31 AMThis truly is the end of days; Rangers in administration, 5 Englishmen and Chazney Mulgrew in the Scotland squad.
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