Scotland: Kris Commons called up after Rhodes & Snodgrass pull out

 

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: WALES V SCOTLAND

  • Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
  • Date: Friday 12 October
  • Kick-off: 19:35 BST

Coverage: Live coverage on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW and on the BBC Sport website

Celtic winger Kris Commons has been called up to the Scotland squad after ankle injuries forced Jordan Rhodes and Robert Snodgrass to withdraw.

Commons has not played for Scotland for more than a year but could face Wales in Cardiff on Friday, with Belgium hosting the Scots next Tuesday.

Rhodes' Blackburn team-mate, Grant Hanley, pulled out of Craig Levein's squad with a groin strain on Monday.

Celtic winger Kris Commons

Commons' last cap came in March 2011

And forward Steven Naismith will miss both matches because of suspension.

Capped nine times, 29-year-old Commons has scored two international goals - both during Levein's time as national coach.

But he has not featured for Scotland since early 2011 and last week admitted he found it "baffling" that he was not being considered for more caps.

Commons' Celtic team-mates, Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew, are expected to recover from injuries.

Brown missed the Glasgow club's 1-0 win over Hearts with an ongoing hip problem, while Mulgrew, who deputised for the midfielder as captain, went off injured with a first-half head knock.

However, Celtic manager Lennon told BBC Scotland that Mulgrew was only "a bit groggy", while Brown will have benefited by being given a rest against Hearts.

"We're hoping, for Scotland's sake, he recovers," Lennon said of Brown.

The absence of Naismith and Rhodes, who have three international goals between them, had reduced Levein's attacking options, but Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher is back in the squad following a two-year international exile.

Meanwhile, Scotland captain Darren Fletcher was not involved in the Manchester United squad that faced Newcastle United on Sunday.

The midfielder, who had been out of action for 10 months through illness, made his first start of the season last month against the same opponents and was in the starting line-up as United defeated Cluj in the Champions League.

Scotland squad to face Wales and Belgium

Goalkeepers : Matt Gilks (Blackpool), Allan McGregor (Besiktas), David Marshall (Cardiff City)

Defenders : Christophe Berra (Wolves), Gary Caldwell (Wigan Athletic), Daniel Fox (Southampton), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Andy Webster (Heart of Midlothian)

Midfielders : Charlie Adam (Stoke), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), James Forrest (Celtic), James McArthur (Wigan Athletic), Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Kris Commons (Celtic), Matt Phillips (Blackpool)

Forwards : Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Jamie Mackie (Queens Park Rangers), Kenny Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps)