Late addition: Jay McEveley could make his first Scotland appearance since 2008 after being drafted in late. Pic: ©SNS Group
Craig Levein has taken steps to cover for four absent players by calling up Jay McEveley and Garry O'Connor to the Scotland squad. The pair will join the squad ahead of their trip to Lithuania, where they will begin their Euro 2012 qualification campaign on Friday.
Andy Webster, Chris Iwelumo and Lee Wallace are definitely out of the game in Kaunas, as is Kevin McNaughton, who may recover in time to face Liechtenstein at Hampden on Tuesday in the second game of the international double header.
Former Derby County defender McEveley, who can play at left-back or in central defence, last played for Scotland in the 1-1 friendly draw with Croatia in 2008, which was George Burley's first game in charge. Now with Barnsley, the English-born player has earned a recall under Levein, as he looks to add to his three caps.
O'Connor's last appearance in a Scotland jersey came in a substitute appearance against Holland during World Cup qualifying at Hampden, which the eventual finalists won 1-0 in September 2009. The Birmingham City striker has 16 caps, having scored four times on international duty.
McNaughton, together with Tottenham Hotspur right back Alan Hutton and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Steven Fletcher, are all not expected to feature in Lithuania. But the trio could be fit for the visit of Liechtenstein to Hampden, with Levein retaining the players in his party.
Scotland are fighting to qualify for their first European Championships since their participation at Euro 1996, where they drew with Holland, lost to England in their home tournament and defeated Switzerland. Levein is also charged with the task of trying to guide the country to their first major tournament since World Cup 1998, where the Scots lost to Brazil and Morocco either side of a 1-1 draw with Norway.
Revised Scotland squad to face Lithuania and Liechtenstein: Allan McGregor, David Marshall, Matt Gilks; Jay McEveley, Christophe Berra, Kirk Broadfoot, Alan Hutton, Stephen McManus, Kevin McNaughton, David Weir, Steven Whittaker.
Charlie Adam, Scott Brown, Graham Dorrans, Darren Fletcher, Paul Hartley, Lee McCulloch, James Morrison, Barry Robson; Kris Boyd, Steven Fletcher, James McFadden, Kenny Miller, Steven Naismith, Garry O'Connor.
