Coutts has been a key player for Scotland during this campaign

Scotland will be without Preston midfielder Paul Coutts for the first leg of their Uefa Under-21 Championship play-off with Iceland.

Coutts is suspended for the tie in Reykjavík on 8 October but will be available for the return at Easter Road three days later.

Hearts midfielder David Templeton is the only uncapped player in manager Billy Stark's 23-man squad.

Scott Arfield will be making his 17th appearance at this level, if chosen.

With a place in the eight-team finals in Denmark next summer up for grabs, Stark has an experienced pool of players to choose from.

And the manager will have been delighted to see Barry Bannan draw praise from new Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier after playing 90 minutes in this week's Carling Cup win over Blackburn.

Defenders Paul Caddis and Danny Wilson have European experience during their time with Celtic and Rangers, respectively, with the latter making his Liverpool debut this week in the shock home defeat to Northampton.

Chris Maguire of Aberdeen and Motherwell's Jamie Murphy are the leading scorers in the squad for the vital double-header, with five goals each for their country.

Scotland squad for the Uefa Under-21 Championship qualifying play-off against Iceland on October 8 and 11:

Barclay (Falkirk), Gallacher (Rangers), Martin (Leeds); Caddis (Swindon), Hanlon (Hibernian), Marr (Celtic), Perry (Rangers), Saunders (Motherwell), Scobbie (Falkirk), Wilson (Liverpool); Arfield (Huddersfield), Bannan (Aston Villa), Coutts (Preston), Davidson (St Johnstone), McGinn (Watford), Shinnie (Rangers), Wotherspoon (Hibernian), Forrest (Celtic); Goodwillie (Dundee United), Griffiths (Dundee), Maguire (Aberdeen), Murphy (Motherwell), Templeton (Hearts).

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version