Surprise call-up for Bridcutt

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan sprang a major surprise in his first competitive squad by calling up Brighton midfielder Liam Bridcutt.

The 23-year-old Reading-born midfielder was joined by Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven and Peterborough winger George Boyd in getting his first call-up ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia. Boyd, who is currently on loan at Hull, previously featured for Scotland B in 2009 but had never made a full squad.

Southampton left-back Danny Fox has been recalled to the squad while there is no place for Rangers' Lee Wallace or Phil Bardsley, who has not played for Sunderland since January 19.

Blackpool winger Matt Phillips and QPR forward Jamie Mackie both drop out of the squad as does Celtic captain Scott Brown, whose season appears to be over because of an abductor injury.

In-form Hibernian striker Leigh Griffiths was not included but Chris Burke retains his place after Strachan handed him his first international cap in more than six years in the 1-0 friendly win over Estonia last month.

Bridcutt, who began his career in the Chelsea youth ranks, qualifies through his grandfather from Edinburgh. The holding midfielder's inclusion is subject to Scottish Football Association paperwork being completed.

Both Strachan and assistant Mark McGhee have watched him closely, and Strachan said: "Liam is a guy I've been watching. I've seen a lot of his games. At the time I didn't realise he could possibly play for Scotland. Mark McGhee, who lives in the Brighton area, has seen a lot of Liam and he did his homework into the type of guy Liam was and did he want to play for Scotland."

Scotland squad: M Gilks (Blackpool), D Marshall (Cardiff), A McGregor (Besiktas); C Berra (Wolves), G Caldwell (Wigan), D Fox (Southampton), G Hanley (Blackburn), A Hutton (Real Mallorca), R Martin (Norwich), C Mulgrew (Celtic), A Webster (Hearts); C Adam (Stoke), L Bridcutt (Brighton), C Burke (Birmingham).

K Commons (Celtic), G Dorrans (West Brom), J Forrest (Celtic), G Mackay-Steven (Dundee United), J McArthur (Wigan), J Morrison (West Brom), R Snodgrass (Norwich); G Boyd (Hull), S Fletcher (Sunderland), R McCormack (Leeds), S Maloney (Wigan), K Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps), S Naismith (Everton), J Rhodes (Blackburn).