Scotland recall Arsenal’s Tierney for Nations League matches

EDINBURGH: Arsenal let-back Kieran Tierney and Newcastle United’s Ryan Fraser have been recalled to the Scotland squad for their upcoming Nations League matches.

Rangers duo Ryan Jack and Jon Mclaughlin also return, as do Norwich midfielder Kenny Mclean and Ryan Porteous of Hibernian.

However, captain Andy Robertson, striker Ross Stewart and defenders John Soutar and Liam Cooper miss out due to injury and fitness, while there’s no place for Allan Campbell or Lewis Ferguson in the 25-man squad.

Scotland host Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland next week before a trip to Poland for what could be a decisive match against Ukraine, who lead their Nations League group by a point.

CZECHS BRING KUDELA IN FROM THE Cold:controversial centre-back ondrej Kudela has been recalled to the Czech Republic squad for Nations League games against Portugal and Switzerland later this month, coach Jaroslav Silhavy said on Tuesday.

Trailing group 2 leaders Spain by four points, the Czechs host second-placed Portugal in Prague on September 24 and fourth-placed Switzerland in St gallen three days later.

Kudela has not played for the national team since early 2021 when he allegedly aimed a racist slur at glasgow Rangers midfielder glen Kamara during a europa League game.

Kudela, then with Slavia Prague, was handed a 10-game ban by UEFA which saw him sit out euro 2020, postponed by a year.

The 35-year-old let Slavia for Indonesian top-flight side Persija Jakarta in the summer.

“We are a bit short of centre-backs now. We know ondrej well, we have lost trace of him a bit but we watch him via video,” Silhavy said.

“He plays all games, we may argue about the quality of the competition, but he has proved many times in the past that he is an experienced player,” he added.

bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick also returns after missing the four Nations League games in June having undergone groin surgery.

n