STOKE CITY striker Jacob Brown is the surprise call-up to Steve Clarke’s squad for the World Cup double-header against Moldova and Denmark.
The 23-year-old frontman, who has scored four goals in 18 appearances for the Championship outfit, was born in Halifax, but qualifies to play for Scotland through his grandparents.
With former Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie, of Bournemouth, and Queens Park Rangers hitman Lyndon Dykes suspended for the game in Moldova a week on Friday, ‘unknown’ Brown has been brought in to add to Clarke’s forward options.
THE WAY AHEAD…Steve Clarke is poised for crucial World Cup double-header.
St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark has been rewarded for some outstanding recent performances by getting the nod to join Craig Gordon and Jon McLaughlin in the pool.
Motherwell’s Liam Kelly, who lost six goals to Rangers on Sunday, steps down.
Kieran Tierney’s fitness was a concern for Clarke having missed three consecutive Arsenal games because of an ankle problem, but he has been included.
Celtic’s Greg Taylor, though, has been overlooked as he battles to overcome his shoulder injury that has seen him miss the Hoops’ last nine outings.
If the Scots win in Chisinau, they will have secured a place in the play-offs to qualify for Qatar 2022, while a draw between Austria and Israel on the same evening would see Clarke’s side finish second in Group F.
THE FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Craig Gordon (Hearts), Jon McLaughlin (Rangers), Zander Clark (St Johnstone);
Defenders:
Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell), Nathan Patterson (Rangers), Jack Hendry (Club Brugge), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Andy Robertson (Liverpool);
Midfielders:
Billy Gilmour (Norwich City, on loan from Chelsea), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), David Turnbull (Celtic), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen), Scott McTominay (Manchester United);
FORWARDS:
Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), Che Adams (Southampton), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle), Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian) and Jacob Brown (Stoke City).
