Image source, SNSImage caption, Montgomery made his Scotland Under-21 debut last year
- Published12 minutes ago
Kristi Montgomery has been given a first call-up for Scotland after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean dropped out of the Nations League squad.
The Blackburn Rovers midfielder has been promoted from the under-21s by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli for the games against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia.
The 22-year-old has started all eight Championship matches for Tony Mowbray's side this season.
Celtic defender Tierney and Norwich midfielder McLean have 119 international caps between them, while experienced trio Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland were unavailable before Pocognoli made his picks.
Montgomery is the eighth uncapped player in the 27-strong group, joining Luke Graham, Robbie Ure, Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh.
Oli McBurnie, Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson were recalled and Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour returns after missing the World Cup through injury.
Dominic Hyam, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Grant Hanley, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart are among those overlooked by Pocognoli, with Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher in the under-21s after taking Gilmour's place in the USA.
Another fresh face for Pocognoli to consider - analysis
Tom English, BBC Scotland senior sports writer
Montgomery has been on the books at Blackburn Rovers since the age of nine, qualifying to play for Scotland through his mother. He's represented his country at U-18s, U-20s and U-21s and has started the season particularly well at an albeit struggling Blackburn.
They're 16th in the Championship having diced with relegation last season, eventually finishing 20th in what was Montgomery's breakthrough season.
Club manager Mowbray has been singing his praises, saying: "He's an amazing young footballer who is playing in the battleground of the match in the middle of the pitch and is generally coming out with the ball after winning every duel he goes into."
Montgomery has played in all 10 of Blackburn's games this season and his promotion on the back of the unfortunate losses of veterans McLean and Tierney gives an already fresh-looking Scotland squad another level of interest.
Revised Scotland squad
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)
