Kristi Montgomery earns first Scotland call-up after Tierney and McLean withdraw
September 21, 2026 19:41
Kristi Montgomery has been given his first senior Scotland call-up after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean dropped out of the squad. New head coach Sebastien Pocognoli promoted the 22-year-old Blackburn Rovers midfielder from the under-21s for Scotland’s upcoming matches against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia.
CONTEXT ON MONTGOMERY
Montgomery, who made his Scotland Under-21 debut last year, has started all eight Championship matches for Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn this season. He is one of eight uncapped players in Pocognoli’s 27-strong group.
SQUAD MOVEMENTS
Tierney and McLean together have 119 international caps but withdrew from the Nations League group. Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland were unavailable before Pocognoli made his selections.
Several players were recalled to the senior group: Oli McBurnie, Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour also returns to the squad after missing the World Cup through injury. By contrast, Dominic Hyam, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Grant Hanley, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart were among those overlooked. Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher is with the under-21s after taking Gilmour’s place in the USA.
SELECTED SQUAD (as named)
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City)
Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese)
Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts)
WHY IT MATTERS
The selections reflect Pocognoli’s first squad-building decisions as Scotland prepare for multiple Nations League fixtures, combining several returning senior names with a notable group of uncapped players.