Who are the new faces in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad?

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has named nine uncapped players in his squads for friendlies against the Czech Republic and Denmark.

Blackburn Rovers' Tony Watt (left) has earned a Scotland call-up. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.

KIERAN TIERNEY

The 18-year-old left back has had an impressive breakthrough season at Celtic, making 23 appearances so far. He has caught the eye with a series of energetic displays and displaced Emilio Izaguirre. Week after week he is a bright spark for Celtic and has bypassed the Scotland Under-21 squad.

JOHN McGINN

The Hibernian midfielder has been promoted from his role as Scotland Under-21 captain amid an impressive debut season at Easter Road. The former St Mirren player is aiming for his second League Cup winners’ medal on Sunday and Strachan noted his “drive, strength, ability, teamwork and humility” as reasons for his recognition.

KENNY McLEAN

Another graduate of the under-21 squad and McGinn’s former St Mirren team-mate, McLean has gone from strength to strength in his first full season with Aberdeen. His height and physicality going forward from the middle of the park plays a crucial part in Aberdeen’s style of play, and he has scored six times this season.

LIAM COOPER

When the centre-back first broke into Hull’s Premier League side there were high hopes for him, but relegation and an inability to nail down a regular starting berth saw him make the short trip to Leeds. The 23-year-old was named club captain under Neil Redfearn, who described him as a “natural leader”.

OLIVER BURKE

Burke is another teenager earning international recognition. Just a month older than Tierney, the Nottingham Forest winger likes to run at players and make something happen for himself, something Strachan wants to see in his team.

JAMIE MURPHY

Having left Motherwell to make a name for himself in England, Murphy shone at Sheffield United before joining Brighton in a £1.5million deal last summer. The 26-year-old has been part of the side who went 21 games undefeated from the start of the Sky Bet Championship season and is the club’s third top scorer with six goals from midfield.

SCOTT BAIN

Former Scotland international Jim Leighton has been a regular advocate for the man he coached at Aberdeen. Bain has shown that he can is a key performer for a Dundee side who are quietly putting together another good season. The 24-year-old was called up to the national squad at the end of last season.

KEVIN McDONALD

The 27-year-old midfielder is no stranger to the Scotland set up, having been called up without making an appearance on two previous occasions, but he has been making his mark in England. Upon departing Dundee in 2008, McDonald went on to play 26 times in the English Premier League for Burnley, and has been an ever-present for Wolves this season.

TONY WATT

Watt has at times cut a controversial figure during his career, but Strachan feels he is a potential match-winner for the national side. The 22-year-old will always be remembered by Celtic fans for scoring the winning goal against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2012, but has since played for Lierse, Standard Liege, Charlton, Cardiff and now Blackburn, where has scored twice in seven games on loan from The Valley.

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