Plenty local for Scotland

TONIGHT dawns a new era for the Scotland national football team as Alex McLeish kicks off his second spell in charge in a Hampden friendly against Costa Rica.

And his new-look squad has a distinctly local feel running through it for fans in this area.

Six of the squad have featured for either Dundee or United, while there’s another local boy in his first national team squad.

So, who should we be looking out for tonight against the Central American side?

Stuart Armstrong Four caps, one goal.

Creative midfielder Armstrong made his name at Tannadice as he helped the Tangerines to the 2014 Scottish Cup Final and the League Cup Final the following season.

The Celtic man was the lynchpin of the United side under Jackie McNamara and, since his departure in January 2015, it’s been all downhill for the Terrors.

Barry Douglas No caps.

Another former United man, Douglas left Queen’s Park for Tannadice in 2010, spending three years with the Tangerines.

A good defender and impressive setpieces made him a loss when he departed for Poland where he won the national championship with Lech Poznan in 2015.

Then came a spell in the Turkish topflight for Konyaspor before joining Wolves where four goals in 30 league appearances and a host of assists have seen him catch the eye for the Championship leaders.

Jack Hendry No caps.

It’s been a stellar rise for Hendry since his low-key arrival at Dundee in the summer from Wigan Athletic.

A stand-out in the Dens Park defence, he impressed Brendan Rodgers enough to splash upwards of £1.5 million to take him to Celtic.

Just five appearances later and he was a late call-up to McLeish’s first national squad.

Kevin McDonald No caps.

Carnoustie boy McDonald played for Scotland U/19s and U/21s during his fledgling days at Dens Park but it’s been a long road to senior recognition for the 29-year-old.

He was called up twice before, under Gordon Strachan, but didn’t feature.

Three seasons for Dundee in the First Division, where he played just over 100 games, scoring 16 times, prepared him for

Scotland boss Alex McLeish oversees his first week of training. Stuart Armstrong, Kevin McDonald and Scott McKenna, along with Charlie