Who persuaded Alex McLeish to hand Sheffield Wednesday defender Liam Palmer a first Scotland call-up

Boss Alex McLeish has revealed who persuaded him to include Sheffield Wednesday defender Liam Palmer in his latest Scotland squad.

Uncapped Palmer, who qualifies for the Scots through his late grandmother, who was from Carluke in South Lanarkshire, won his first call-up today.

Scotland manager Alex McLeishplaceholder image
Scotland manager Alex McLeish

He has been selected in the 27-man squad for the European Championship 2020 qualifiers with Kazakhstan and San Marino.

Scotland manager Alex McLeishplaceholder image
Scotland manager Alex McLeish

McLeish said: "He’s been in the system with him before with the young ones and I've got to be honest, in recent times he wasn’t flagged up. All of a sudden we recognised Liam was playing extremely well for Sheffield Wednesday.

"He was a midfielder converted to a full back so there was a little bit of that to discuss. The fact he was played right back, left back and midfield then again it is a player of versatility.

"James McFadden went down to watch him a few weeks ago and James was really impressed by him."

Scotland face Kazakhstan on March, 21 before travelling to San Marino three days later.

Barry Bannan, meanwhile, returns to the international set-up for the first time since 2017.

 

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