McTominay returns from heart surgery as Penrice earns first Scotland call-up

Scott McTominay has been recalled to the Scotland squad following heart surgery, with Rangers loanee James Penrice handed his first international call-up for Scotland’s Nations League double-header against North Macedonia and Switzerland this month.

McTominay, the 29-year-old Napoli midfielder, underwent the procedure in September and missed Sebastien Pocognoli’s first camp in charge. His return is one of several changes to the 26-man group named by the new Scotland head coach, who takes his side to Hampden Park to face North Macedonia on 13 November before a trip to Switzerland three days later.

Penrice, a left-back currently on loan at Rangers from Greek club AEK Athens, is among the fresh faces in the squad. Torino striker Che Adams also returns after missing the previous camp with a muscle strain, and Celtic’s Kieran Tierney is back after withdrawing from that gathering through injury.

Centre-back Scott McKenna is absent, however, having reportedly picked up a back strain while playing for Dinamo Zagreb. Josh Doig, Colby Donovan, James Wilson and Lennon Miller are the other players to drop out from the previous selection.

Scotland sit third in Nations League Group B1 with four points from four games, three behind Slovenia and eight adrift of runaway leaders Switzerland. Pocognoli’s side will need results from both fixtures to have any realistic chance of improving their standing before the group concludes.

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City)

Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), James Penrice (Rangers), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)

Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers)

Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), Che Adams (Torino)