Celtic stars Scott Brown and Kris Commons have both been omitted from the Scotland squad which will start the World Cup qualification campaign early next month.

Only three players with SPL teams - Celtic's Charlie Mulgrew and James Forrest, and Hearts' Andy Webster - feature in Craig Levein's 24-man squad for the games against Serbia and Macedonia at Hampden on September 8 and 12.

Celtic captain Brown played 90 minutes last night as his team beat Helsingborg 2-0 to reach the Champions League group stages.

But the midfielder is still being troubled by a hip problem. and was omitted for the national encounters following talks with the Scotland manager.

There is no place for in-form Celtic winger Commons, who has not appeared for Scotland since withdrawing from the squad ahead of the May 2011 matches against Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

However, ex-Rangers keeper Allan McGregor is included and confident of being fit to face Serbia. The Besiktas man suffered a groin injury in Scotland's friendly win over Australia last month, but is in Levein's squad along with Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks and Cardiff's David Marshall.

Rangers midfielder Ian Black and Blackburn striker David Goodwillie, who were both late call-ups for the Australia friendly, are left out. There are no Rangers players in the squad.

Leeds striker Ross McCormack and Huddersfield forward Jordan Rhodes retain their places after scoring in the 3-1 win over Australia.

Striker Kenny Miller returns after being rested for the Australia victory but there is no place for his Vancouver Whitecaps team-mate Barry Robson.

Barry Bannan drops out but his Aston Villa team-mate Alan Hutton remains in the squad despite not playing for his club this season.

Southampton left-back Danny Fox keeps his place amid the absence of the injured Phil Bardsley.

Brighton striker Craig Mackail-Smith, who missed the Australia friendly through injury, has not been able to force his way back in.

Captain Darren Fletcher is not in the squad as he continues his battle to overcome a bowel condition, but he will join up with his team-mates in the build up.

Levein said: "Scott Brown is fairly straightforward - he is injured.He's hardly trained and he has been playing probably just in the really important matches.

"He took an injection to play last night and he's visiting a specialist today and trying to resolve the issues that he has. I had a good chat with him last night and would have liked him to be involved in the squad.

"If it becomes a situation where the specialist feels that maybe he can be involved, I can bring him into the group. But it looks unlikely at this time."

Of Commons, the manager said: "We are so strong in the forward and wide areas that I didn't feel any of the guys who have been in the squad recently deserved to be left out.

"Being in the position that I can afford to leave Kris Commons out is a huge step forward for us. It's disappointing for Kris but to have the quality of competition we've got in the forward and wide areas, you'll understand how difficult it is to get into the team.

"The one I feel sorry for is Craig Mackail-Smith, who hasn't made the group and doesn't deserve to be left out. The competition is just really, really strong just now."

On McGregor, Levein said: "I've spoken to Allan and he feels a lot better and he feels he will be fit to play. There's still a small element of doubt. The good thing is we gather on Sunday and that game is not until Saturday so we have plenty of time to assess him.

"He's experienced and he knows his body and he's confident he will be fit. There has to be a small element of doubt and we will assess him when he arrives and have a look at him in training."

There was also no place in the squad for any Rangers players and Levein added: "I think I made it fairly clear the last time. I've picked what I believe to be the best group of players available. It just works the same way every time, I look at the squad and look at who is available in each position and from that I pick the squad."

The full squad is:

Gilks (Blackpool), McGregor (Besiktas), Marshall (Cardiff); Berra (Wolves), Caldwell (Wigan), Fox (Southampton), Hanley (Blackburn), Hutton (Aston Villa), Martin (Norwich), Mulgrew (Celtic), Webster (Hearts); Adam (Liverpool), Cowie (Cardiff), Dorrans (West Brom), Forrest (Celtic), Mackie (QPR), Maloney (Wigan), Morrison (West Brom), Naismith (Everton), Phillips (Blackpool), Snodgrass (Norwich); McCormack (Leeds), Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps), Rhodes (Huddersfield).