Hearts defender John Souttar called into senior Scotland squad

Scotland manager Alex McLeish has promoted Hearts' John Souttar from the Under-21s into his senior squad.

Hearts defender John Souttar has been promoted to the full Scotland squad.

McLeish today named his pool for next month's friendly with Belgium and the Nations League match against Albania, both of which are at Hampden Park.

Souttar was initially part of Scot Gemmill's Under-21 group to face Andorra and the Netherlands last week. However, McLeish has called him into the main squad and could hand him his first full international cap after losing Aberdeen's Scott McKenna to a hamstring complaint.

The 21-year-old was the regular Scotland Under-21 captain and is currently deputy skipper at Hearts with Christophe Berra injured.

The Edinburgh club's manager, Craig Levein, revealed last week that Souttar is eligible to play for Australia. McLeish has now rewarded the player for an outstanding start to the season.

Souttar is eager to play for his country at senior level after missing out in May. He was named in the Scotland squad for friendly matches away to Peru and Mexico but withdrew through injury.

Scotland squad to face Belgium and Albania: Archer (Millwall), Gordon (Celtic), A McGregor (Rangers), Hendry (Celtic), Mulgrew (Blackburn), O'Donnell (Blackburn), Robertson (Liverpool), Shinnie (Aberdeen), Souttar (Hearts), Tierney (Celtic), Armstrong (Southampton), Cairney (Fulham), Forrest (Celtic), Fraser (Bournemouth), McDonald (Fulham), McGinn (Aston Villa), C McGregor (Celtic), McTominay (Man Utd), Paterson (Cardiff), Griffiths (Celtic), McBurnie (Swansea), Phillips (West Brom), Russell (Sporting Kansas City).