by Our Sports Desk

GRAEME SHINNIE and Kevin McDonald were included yesterday in Gordon Strachan’s squad for Scotland’s crunch Euro 2016 qualifying double-header against Poland and Gibraltar.

Uncapped Shinnie, 24, has been in good form for Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen since moving from Inverness in the summer, playing in midfield for the Dons although he is better known as a left-back.

Wolves midfielder McDonald, a former under-21 player, is uncapped but the 26-year-old was in the squad for the qualifier against Germany a year ago.

On the inclusion of McDonald and Shinnie, Scotland boss Strachan said: “Kevin was with us last year. He has had a great season again with Wolves.

“I’ve seen him recently, he is getting better and better as he gets older, although he is not an old man.

“I think he deserves to be here. He has been unfortunate because we are strong in the central midfield area.

“I have known about Graeme for a couple of years now. But again we have been strong in the areas he has been playing.

“But he has played so well it would be great to have a look at him. He can cover many positions, that is handy and I look forward to working with him.

“He has had a successful season, he has been in a winning side so that helps when you bring people in who have been on a high, and he is on a high at the moment.”

Charlie Mulgrew has also been named in the squad despite being currently sidelined by a thigh injury.