Scotland are back in action tomorrow night aiming to reach a second successive major tournament.
The journey to Qatar 2022 will begin under the lights at Hampden Park in the first of three matches this international window.
After previous doubts over whether Austria would be able to field their selected squad, travel restrictions between Germany and the UK have eased allowing the travelling side to have a full complement of players to choose from.
Led by Franco Foda Austria will now have players at their disposal such as David Alaba and Marcel Sabitzer.
Austria come into the match on form having won five of their last six games.
Hibs’ star Kevin Nisbet is included in Steve Clarke’s squad for the first time along with Southampton’s Che Adams as Scotland prepare to begin their FIFA World Cup Qualification campaign.
Adams has been in fine form for Southampton this season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 28 appearances, with Nisbet also starring up front. The 24-year-old is the second top-scorer in the Scottish Premiership with 12 goals for Hibernian this season.
Grant Hanley has also been recalled to the squad and will be aiming for his first Scotland cap since March 2018.
The last time Scotland played against Austria was 2007 where a Garry O’Connor goal secured the victory in an international friendly. The two sides have faced each other on 20 occasions with Scotland running out as winners on six occasions, losing eight.
Scotland fans have an affiliation with Austria after an away 1998 World Cup Qualifying match against Austria where travelling fans began to sang the chorus of Sound of Music classic ‘Do-Re-Mi’. The sound of ‘Doe a Deer’ reverberated around the ground and has become a classic Scotland song ever since.
Adams spoke to the Scottish FA to discuss his call up.He said: “When I was younger, I didn’t really know my body and how I would adapt (to playing international football), but I think I’m the right age.”
“I know a lot of people are going to be saying it’s because of the Euros, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think it’s come at the right time.
“I have spoken to Stu (Armstrong) a couple of times and I spoke to the gaffer and that made my mind up.
“He convinced me a lot. I have seen videos online and it’s just something I want to be part of. I want to take my career to the next level.
“I saw the David Marshall videos and, as soon as I saw that, I wanted to be part of it. The lads looked really good and they have really welcomed me in.
“I can’t wait to get going to put the trust back into the manager.”
Fans have the chance to reserve their A5 52-page perfect-bound programme which can be pre-ordered now online.
The programme will also be available to view for free, digitally, on matchday.
The match will be live on Sky Sports Main Event. The game will be available on Sky Go for subscribers. Now TV passes are also available to watch the game.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
