Scotland: Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong return for World Cup qualifiers

Fit-again midfielders Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong return to the Scotland squad for next month's crucial World Cup qualifying double header.

Rangers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin is also back, replacing St Johnstone's Zander Clark in Steve Clarke's squad.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor is included despite having missed his club's last four games due to injury.

Clarke hopes he and Armstrong will be given "some minutes" by the their clubs before Israel's visit on 9 October.

Victory in that match, away to Faroe Islands three days later then over Moldova in November will guarantee Scotland second place in Group F of European qualifying and a play-off spot.

While McTominay has already returned to the Manchester United side after groin surgery, Armstrong has yet to play a competitive game this season and pulled out of Scotland's last series of fixtures.

"There's still 11 days until match day, so there's plenty of time," Clarke said. "I'm hoping they'll be fit and available to join the squad."

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths has been winning game time on loan to Dundee, but asked if the 31-year-old was close to a recall, Clarke said: "At this moment in time, I'm happy with the forwards we've got in the squad."

Aberdeen centre-half Declan Gallagher is the only player to drop out of Clarke's selection.

Clarke said it was "great to see" that Scotland's match against Israel at Hampden - a repeat of their 2020 play-off semi-final win, which was played behind closed doors as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic - is already sold out.

"It will be my first experience of a full house here as head coach and I'm looking forward to that," he said.

"It tells you that the Scottish public certainly are engaging with this team and squad of players. It shows the players are doing something right."

Scotland followed defeat in Denmark with victories over Moldova and Austria to sit second in their group, seven points behind the Danes and one ahead of Israel.

"The next two games are big in the context of trying to get second in the group," Clarke said.

"It will be a tight game against Israel I would imagine. We have played them quite a lot recently - we know each other well."

Clarke thought his side had "put ourselves in a good position" to win a play-off place as group runners-up and suggested that "every game is a cup final when you are in qualification for World Cup finals".

Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee will join the Scotland set-up for the first time under Clarke having missed out last time because of Covid-19.

Former Scotland forward Steven Naismith, who stood in for MacPhee, will remain part of Clarke's backroom team.