Scotland boss Steve Clarke said that he felt it was too early for Leigh Griffiths to return to the international fold as he announced his squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
The Celtic striker will have to wait for his return for the national side despite scoring three goals for the Hoops since his return to action after time off due to mental health issues.
Steven Naismith has been named in the squad despite missing the last two Hearts games with a hamstring problem while Oli McBurnie, Johnny Russell and Matt Phillips are other attacking options.
Here is your Scotland squad to take on Russia and Belgium.
➡️ Scotland v Russia tickets: https://t.co/lMnT8q5vm0
➡️ Scotland v Belgium tickets: https://t.co/s7zNoOcHFp??????? pic.twitter.com/yB1bhg7E3l
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 27, 2019
“[Griffiths] was close,” Clarke said. “Leigh has got some fantastic attributes. I just look at him just now and he’s come a long way in a short space of time after a very difficult spell in his life.
“And I feel we should just give him a little more time to settle into the role again at Celtic and get himself fully fit and firing. And a fully fit and firing, sharp Leigh Griffiths will always be good for us.
“But at the moment I just feel it’s a little bit too early to push him.”
Meanwhile, Portsmouth goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray has won his first call-up as back-up to David Marshall and Jon McLaughlin.
He’s joined in the squad by Grant Hanley, Liam Cooper and Charlie Mulgrew as centre-back options with Scott McKenna, John Souttar and Michael Devlin all struggling with injury.
West Ham winger Robert Snodgrass is back in the fold while Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has earned a recall.
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