ALEX McLeish has called the players who will miss Scotland's withdrawal-blighted summer tour of Peru and Mexico to explain that he expects to see passion for the national team going forward.

Allan McGregor, the Rangers goalkeeper, became the latest player to pull out of McLeish's squad with his place being taken by Scott Bain of Celtic.

Several Celtic players and some English-based internationalists have been deliberately omitted while Barry Douglas, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser have all withdrawn.

But McLeish, who inherited the trip to South and Central America when he was appointed back in February, has contacted many of the players to tell them what he expects when the inaugural Uefa Nations League gets underway.

"I’ve reminded them that they should never lose that passion playing for us," he said. "There's one or two we've made concessions on. With the boys that have dropped out, I've phoned most of them and said to them 'I want you to be really passionate about playing for Scotland'.

"They said 'gaffer, we really want to play'. It's just the likes of Matt Ritchie have been struggling in the last few weeks, not training, just playing the games.

"If we are going to make any concessions it's now and we want to get everybody buzzing for the September fixtures."

McLeish has been impressed with how Bain, who fell out of favour at Dundee at the start of the season, has fared since he moved to Celtic.

“I saw him playing in the Rangers game a few weeks ago and he looked very comfortable," he said.

"Of course, I am going to get information from Stevie Woods and I did a few weeks ago. He said that Scott was one we should definitely look at. He is getting the chance to join us because of the McGregor situation.

"We have had these other goalkeepers for nigh on 10 years now. There are a couple of new ones on the block.

"Jon McLaughlin has had a great season for Hearts. Jordan Archer as well has had a fantastic season with Millwall. They almost pulled off a miracle by getting to the play-offs. He has had a few shutouts in that time. It is a great opportunity for the boys to show what they can do.”