Teenager Curtis given maiden Scotland call-up
Rangers' on-loan Kilmarnock winger Findlay Curtis is a surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for two friendly matches later this month.
Teenage Kilmarnock winger Findlay Curtis is a surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for two friendly matches later this month. Curtis, 19, joined Kilmarnock on loan from Rangers in January having played 26 times in an impressive first half of the campaign at Ibrox. With Bournemouth's Ben Gannon-Doak just back from injury and Scotland lacking depth in wide attacking areas, Curtis has been given his first chance to impress as Clarke prepares to lead Scotland at the World Cup finals in June.
Scotland host Japan at Hampden on Saturday 28 March before taking on Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday 31 March. Wrexham centre-back Dominic Hyam and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway have also been re-called to join an otherwise settled squad. Everton right-back Nathan Patterson is also included having played no part in Scotland's successful World Cup qualifying campaign in the Autumn due to injury.
Napoli's Billy Gilmour also returns after missing the last camp through injury, while his club team-mate Scott McTominay and Aston Villa's John McGinn are both in as expected after recently returning to action. Gannon-Doak, a key part of Scotland ending a 28-year wait to reach a men's World Cup finals, made his return to the Bournemouth squad on Saturday but has been left out as he aims to return to full fitness. Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland also misses out as he nears a return for his club, and Aaron Hickey is sidelined too.
Falkirk's Scott Bain is the only goalkeeper included currently playing regularly, with Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly second choice at Nottingham Forest and Rangers respectively. Curtis given unexpected chance Curtis' inclusion is a surprise given in the last international window in November, when Scotland beat Denmark to qualify for the World Cup, he was left out of the Scotland under-21s squad. Head coach Scot Gemmill said at the time it was because they wanted to assess some other players closely, rather than anything Curtis had done.