Kristi Montgomery Receives First Senior Scotland Call-Up
Kristi Montgomery has been handed her first senior Scotland call-up as Sebastien Pocognoli reshapes his squad for a demanding Nations League schedule.
The Blackburn Rovers midfielder steps up from the Under-21s after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean withdrew from the group named for the double-header against Slovenia, plus clashes with Switzerland and North Macedonia. At 22, Montgomery has quietly become a constant for Tony Mowbray this season, starting all eight of Blackburn’s Championship fixtures and earning her promotion on form, not reputation.
Impact of Withdrawals
Tierney and McLean leave a sizeable hole. Between them, the Celtic defender and Norwich midfielder boast 119 caps, the kind of experience Pocognoli was already short of. Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland were all unavailable before the new head coach even finalised his selections, forcing him into a bolder, younger direction.
New Additions
That shift is clear. Montgomery becomes the eighth uncapped player in a 27-strong squad, joining Luke Graham, Robbie Ure, Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh in a group that looks far more like a rebuild than a gentle refresh.
There is a familiar strand running through it, though. Oli McBurnie, Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson are all recalled, while Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour returns after the frustration of missing the World Cup through injury. His comeback pushes Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher back to the Under-21s, where he had stepped in during Gilmour’s absence in the USA.
Notable Omissions
Some big names miss out entirely. Dominic Hyam, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Grant Hanley, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart are among those overlooked as Pocognoli stamps his authority on the squad list.
It leaves Scotland heading into four Nations League fixtures with a blend of hardened campaigners, returning talents and a fresh crop desperate to make the step up stick. For Montgomery and the rest of the uncapped group, the message is simple: this is your opening. What you do with it could shape the next cycle for Scotland.
