Uncapped winger Findlay Curtis has been named in Scotland's squad for this month's World Cup warm-up matches.
The 19-year-old, who is on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers, is the surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke's 26-man group for the visit of Japan on March 28, and the trip to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium three days later to play the Ivory Coast.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who started at Euro 2024 in Germany, returns in place of the injured 43-year-old Craig Gordon. That's despite featuring for just 45 minutes for Nottingham Forest this season.
In defence, Everton's Nathan Patterson and Dom Hyam of Wrexham return to the squad in place of injured Brentford defender Aaron Hickey and full-back Josh Doig, while Hibs' Grant Hanley keeps his place despite last playing over a month ago due to injury.
Ben Gannon Doak misses out as he returns from the hamstring injury suffered in Scotland's win over Denmark last November, with Sparta Prague's Andy Irving included in midfield.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway also returns, while Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland misses out as he recovers from injury.
Curtis has impressed in his six appearances at Rugby Park since joining on loan from Rangers in January.
The winger, who had scored three goals in 26 games for Rangers, has one Scotland Under-21 cap to his name and Clarke hopes he can take his chance on the senior stage.
"He came into the Rangers team, I liked him," Clarke said. "I thought he was quite direct, tries to make things happen.
"I went to watch him live at the weekend, I thought he was decent. He's quick, direct, asks defenders to defend, so it's something a little bit different.
"Obviously Ben Gannon-Doak had a big, big impact on the squad, and certainly the media and the Scottish public, because he's something a little bit different. Findlay can hopefully give us something similar.
"He's not exactly the same type of player as Ben, but something similar."
Scotland's game against Japan - who were the first nation to qualify for the World Cup - will be their first back at Hampden Park since qualification for this summer's finals was confirmed.
Meanwhile, the friendly against Ivory Coast - who reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations - will be the first meeting between the teams.
A Hampden Park farewell against Curacao on May 30 and an overseas friendly in the USA, yet to be confirmed, await thereafter - before that first Group C match against Haiti.
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich).
Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith is feeling "very optimistic" about his country's chances of progressing beyond the group stages for the first time.
The 51-time capped forward, who played under Clarke before first joining his coaching staff in 2021, believes this current group of players can create even more history after ending the nation's 28-year wait for World Cup qualification.
"If I'm honest, if you looked at the teams involved and our squad and where it's at, before the draw even came out, I had a feeling that was our aim," he told Your Site News.
"The manager's been very big on this way back to when we narrowly missed out in the Ukraine play-off, that we can't not just get to the finals, we can definitely progress.
"The games are all going to be tough, the conditions are going to be tough, but that's the same for everybody.
"You're playing against a lot of different nations that you don't come up as much against. They'll be tough games, but I definitely feel we've got what it takes within the group to progress and be the first team to do that at the World Cup.
"What we've got is a squad of leaders who are at their prime, playing at big clubs to guide the potential younger guys in the squad as well.
"So we are very optimistic. It's going to be hard work, but we will definitely do all we can.
"This group have continuously excelled and made their own history. The next step, and what would be really nice for some of the guys, is to finish their career to be the ones that push through the group stage and into the knockout stages of a World Cup."
