Scotland call up Findlay for Euro qualifiers after Cooper ruled out

● Killie defender has yet to win full cap ● Kennedy in Northern Ireland squad

Stuart Findlay has been called into the Scotland squad following an injury blow for Liam Cooper.

The Leeds centre-back was ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a groin injury during his team’s victory over West Brom on Tuesday, hours after Steve Clarke named his latest squad.

Clarke has gone back to former club Kilmarnock to select Findlay, pictured, for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Russia and San Marino.

Findlay is yet to win a full cap but the 24-year-old has previously been involved in squads and played 35 times across the under-age national teams.

Cooper started both defeats against Russia and Belgium last month alongside Charlie Mulgrew.

Norwich’s Grant Hanley, who has not played since 24 August, and Aberdeen’s Michael Devlin are the other centre-backs in the squad. Aberdeen’s Scott Mckenna and Hearts defender John Souttar have both been missing through injury in recent weeks.

Killie boss Angelo Alessio aims to get more players in the Scotland squad after Findlay’s call-up. “He deserves this,” Alessio said. “He works hard, he’s a good guy and good player for the team and for me.”

Stephen O’donnell, Eamonn Brophy and Greg Taylor, who is now at Celtic, have all won caps while at Kilmarnock, while goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald was called up last year. Alessio said: “We have to work and grow other players and get others in the national team.” Meanwhile, uncapped St Johnstone winger Matthew Kennedy has been drafted into the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2020 qualifier against Holland and friendly meeting with the Czech Republic.

The Belfast-born 24-year-old is the only new face in manager Michael O’neill’s 25-man party for the games in Rotterdam on 10 October and in Prague four days later.

Hearts full-back Michael Smith returns after missing last month’s clashes with Luxembourg and Germany through injury while Motherwell midfielder Liam Donnelly retains his place.

Northern Ireland are second in Group C, level on 12 points with leaders Germany with both having played five games.