Gordon Strachan explains his Scotland squad selection for Lithuania and Slovakia qualifiers

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan speaks to the press (SNS Group / Craig Foy)

SHAUN MALONEY has earned a Scotland recall for the World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia.

The Hull midfielder was left out of the squad for the opening win against Malta because of a lack of game time but he is back in for Fulham’s Kevin McDonald.

Rangers captain Lee Wallace is one of three left-backs in the 28-man squad.

Maloney has made two EFL Cup starts and three Premier League substitute appearances this season, while McDonald was immediately back in the Fulham team after withdrawing from the squad ahead of the 5-1 victory over Malta.

Shaun Maloney of Hull City (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Manager Gordon 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).”

Strachan is on hand to promote the 'Free ticket with every kid's group deal' offer (SNS Group / Craig Foy) — Strachan is on hand to promote the ‘Free ticket with every kid’s group deal’ offer (SNS Group / Craig Foy)

Wallace was both a late call-up and withdrawal ahead of the Malta game and Strachan has found an extra place in his squad for the 29-year-old alongside his Rangers team-mate Barrie McKay.

“First of all, we’ve got to look at the two games and what we want to try and do,” said Strachan, whose team host Lithuania on October 8 and face Slovakia in Trnava three days later.

“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.”

SCOTLAND | Gordon Strachan has revealed the Scotland squad for the @FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia #ThisTime pic.twitter.com/w2s16SKCJs

— Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) September 28, 2016