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Rangers' Barrie McKay and Lee Wallace in Scotland squad ahead of friendlies

Rangers pair Barrie McKay and Lee Wallace have been named in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad for friendlies against Italy and France.

But there is no place for Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths, who scored his 40th goal of the season on Wednesday night.

Hearts right-back Callum Paterson has also been brought in while Hibernian midfielder John McGinn keeps his place, but Aberdeen's Kenny McLean drops out.

Scotland face Italy in Malta on May 29 before playing France in Metz on June 4.

Celtic quartet Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, Scott Brown and Griffiths have been dropped for the postseason friendlies along with Aberdeen midfielder McLean.

Both Hearts and Aberdeen start their Europa League campaign on June 30 with Celtic kicking off their Champions League qualifying quest less than two weeks later.

Strachan's 27-man squad will be cut because of the English Championship playoffs, while Hibernian midfielder John McGinn could be in action less than 48 hours before Scotland jet off for Malta for their May 29 friendly against Italy.

Strachan said: "The reason the Celtic and Aberdeen players are not there - I'm the Scotland manager. My job is to get the best for Scottish football.

"So I'm picking a squad that's without Celtic and Aberdeen players. I'm trying to give them as much rest as I can so they can be ready for their European ties.

"It might be a bit of a gamble, I could have done with some of them.

"If Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and whoever is next get through and plays at the top level throughout next year, I will be delighted because that's only going to help Scotland, having experience of playing in Europe, playing against top sides and top players.

"I go back 10-11 years ago when Celtic and Rangers were doing very well in Europe, that definitely benefited the Scotland national side.

"I'm hoping we can give these guys a rest and that will benefit the clubs and in the long term that will benefit me and the Scottish national side."

The only Celtic player included is Charlie Mulgrew, whose contract expires at the end of May.

Strachan said: "He will maybe not be a Celtic player when we play the second game. So that's the reason Charlie is there. But Charlie has had a stop-start season and I don't think he needs as much of a rest."

McKay admits he was looking out for his name in the Scotland squad following his Hampden performance against Celtic.

The 21-year-old was out of the Scotland under-21 set-up for almost three years before being recalled this season after making a huge impact under Mark Warburton following an uninspiring loan spell with Raith Rovers last term.

But his spectacular goal and impressive display in Rangers' William Hill Scottish Cup semifinal victory over Celtic gave him hope of catching Strachan's eye.

He told Rangers' website: "I am delighted, it is great, I have played through all the levels and to be recognised at the first-team level, and from Gordon as well, is a really proud moment for me.

"This is a big moment in my career and if you looked back a year you wouldn't have thought this would be happening to me, I was out on loan and it shows what a difference a year can make.

"I thought there was always a chance I could get in after the Celtic game, I went out and performed at a higher level and it was always going to give me a chance.

"If that chance came then it came but if it didn't then I wouldn't be too disappointed in it with the season that I have had."

Strachan felt he had to select Wallace and McKay together following their link-up play down the Rangers left flank.

"They've had a terrific season," he said. "Lee we know all about but I just felt there were quite a few Rangers players who can feel good about themselves this year, but as a partnership they work brilliantly together. It's as good a partnership as I've seen for a long time.

"Both appreciate each other's contribution and they both know what they're good at, and they both help each other all through the games. So I think it's worth the two of them coming together."

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Bain (Dundee), Marshall (Cardiff), McGregor (Hull)

Defenders: Berra (Ipswich), Greer (Brighton), Hanley (Blackburn), Hutton (Aston Villa), Martin (Norwich), Mulgrew (Celtic), Paterson (Hearts), Robertson (Hull), Wallace (Rangers)

Midfielders: Anya (Watford), Bannan (Sheff Wed), Burke (Notts Forest), Fletcher (West Brom), Maloney (Hull), McArthur (Crystal Palace), McGinn (Hibernian), McKay (Rangers), Phillips (QPR), Ritchie (Bournemouth), Snodgrass (Hull)

Forwards: Fletcher (Marseille), Martin (Derby), McCormack (Fulham), Naismith (Norwich)