Mackie is handed a Scotland recall after leg break recovery

Jamie Mackie, who only recently returned to action for Queen’s Park Rangers after being sidelined for eight months after suffering a broken leg, is expected to be recalled today as Craig Levein names his first Scotland squad since the end of the failed Euro 2012 qualification campaign last month.

Mackie, who helped QPR secure promotion to the Barclays Premier League last season before being sidelined, is likely to be given the nod this morning for the friendly international against Cyprus in Larnaca on 11 November.

The English-born striker made his first domestic appearance of the season in the 6-0 defeat to Fulham at the beginning of last month, coming on as a second-half substitute, and has featured in the three games since then, including QPR’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.

Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes, meanwhile, will be called up for senior and under-21 action by Scotland this week as his prolific season earns him growing recognition.

The Oldham-born striker, who qualifies for Scotland after spending time at school in the country when his father Andy Rhodes played for Dunfermline, St Johnstone and Airdrie, will be named by Levein and will also be in Billy Stark’s under-21 squad, named tomorrow, for their 2013 European Championship qualifier against Netherlands in Nijmegen on 14 November.

Rhodes has scored 14 goals in 13 games for League One side Huddersfield so far this season, including two hat-tricks. He has also scored five goals for the Scotland under-21 side – a hat-trick in their 5-1 win in Luxembourg and then both goals in a 2-2 draw at home to Austria.

Levein plans to give Rhodes his full Scotland debut in the match against Cyprus before the player joins up with the under-21 squad for their important assignment against the Dutch.

“His record recently is phenomenal,” said Levein. “He has improved enormously over the last couple of years, he has some very instinctive finishes. He comes alive round about the penalty box but his game has improved an awful lot outside the penalty box in this last year or so.

“He’s a strong lad, he has got an eye for goal. It’s amazing how many of his goals are one-touch finishes, which tells you he’s getting in great positions. He will come with us, although I have to mention that Billy Stark has a really important match on the Monday night in Holland in the under-21 Euros. So Jordan will possibly play some time against Cyprus and then will fly to Holland.” There will be no place for Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan, currently suspended by his club following his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving, as Levein awaits the outcome of those criminal proceedings.

Scotland will also be without Steven Naismith as the Rangers man awaits the potentially grim diagnosis of the knee injury he suffered at Aberdeen on Saturday. “For Rangers and the national team, his improvement in the last couple of years has been phenomenal. I really feel for him,” said Levein.