Kristi Montgomery earns first Scotland call-up after Tierney and McLean withdraw
Kristi Montgomery has been called into Scotland’s Nations League squad after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean dropped out, head coach Sebastien Pocognoli announced on 21 September 2026. The 22-year-old midfielder has been promoted from the Under-21s for fixtures against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia.
Montgomery made his Scotland Under-21 debut last year and moves up to the senior squad as one of the replacements following the withdrawals of Tierney and McLean. He has been a regular starter for Blackburn Rovers this season, starting all eight Championship matches under Tony Mowbray, and has featured in all 10 of Blackburn’s games this season. Pocognoli included Montgomery in a 27-strong group that contains eight uncapped players.
Celtic defender Kieran Tierney and Norwich midfielder Kenny McLean together have 119 international caps but have withdrawn from the squad prior to Pocognoli’s selections. Before naming his group, Pocognoli was already missing Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland through unavailability. Montgomery is listed among the eight uncapped players in the squad.
Montgomery joins Luke Graham, Robbie Ure, Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh as the uncapped members of the 27-man group. Oli McBurnie, Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson were recalled to the senior squad. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is included after missing the World Cup through injury.
Montgomery has been on Blackburn’s books since the age of nine and qualifies for Scotland through his mother, having represented the country at Under-18s, Under-20s and Under-21s. The club’s form is described as struggling this season; Blackburn are 16th in the Championship after finishing 20th last season, which the article identifies as Montgomery’s breakthrough campaign. Club manager Tony Mowbray praised him, saying: "He's an amazing young footballer who is playing in the battleground of the match in the middle of the pitch and is generally coming out with the ball after winning every duel he goes into."
The squad named by Pocognoli lists the goalkeepers as Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City). Defenders named are Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham Hotspur) and Stephen Welsh (Swansea City). Midfield selections include Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McPake (Hearts) and Lennon Miller (Udinese), while forwards are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla) and James Wilson (Hearts).
Dominic Hyam, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Grant Hanley, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart are among those overlooked by Pocognoli for this selection. Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher has been placed in the Under-21s after taking Billy Gilmour’s spot in the USA.
Montgomery completes Pocognoli’s 27-man Nations League squad that will face Slovenia twice, Switzerland and North Macedonia.
