SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan believes Shaun Maloney has all the attributes he wants from a national team player after recalling the Hull City midfielder.
Maloney was left out of the squad that Strachan picked to face Malta in the opening game of the World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign earlier this month, which the Scots won 5-1.
However, he was selected on Wednesday morning in the place of Fulham's Kevin McDonald after impressing his national manager in the Premier League this season.
Strachan said: "Shaun has been used as a substitute quite a lot with Hull and played a game last week against Stoke, a terrific game. So he is back in again.
"He has professionalism, ability, intellect, willingness to play for Scotland. So he's got all these traits that we want along here.
"And we still have some of the younger lads in the squad as well. If they are good enough we'll stick them in, we will bypass the under-19s and 21s which we did with Ollie (Burke)."
Rangers captain Lee Wallace has also been handed a call-up after only being involved as an injury replacement last time out, before then dropping out with a knock of his own.
He is one of three left-backs in the squad along with Celtic's Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson of Hull, but Strachan pointed to the 29-year-old's understanding with teammate Barrie McKay as one of the main reasons behind his selection.
"First of all, we've got to look at the two games and what we want to try and do," Strachan explained.
"The partnership between him and Barrie over the last 18 months has been terrific, cemented by doing the same thing in the Premiership. Their partnership has been excellent.
"When he came into the last squad, I knew he was a right good kid, but he was good about the place even though he was injured. He gave up time with his family to be there. I like that, so back in again.
"He gives us height, strength and a bit of experience as well."
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