Scotland: Stoke forward Jacob Brown 'buzzing' at call-up for Moldova & Denmark qualifiers

Jacob Brown has scored four times for Stoke City this season

Stoke City forward Jacob Brown was "buzzing" to receive a first Scotland call-up for games against Moldova and Denmark, says head coach Steve Clarke.

A win in Moldova on 12 November will secure Scotland's place in the play-offs for the World Cup next year.

"He was absolutely buzzing when I called to tell him he was involved, really, really excited," Clarke said.

"He's come up the hard way, released by Sheffield Wednesday as a young kid, made his way back in through non-league. Not a dissimilar journey to the one Che Adams did.

"Hopefully he can do as well for us as Che's done. He's a good character. I've got a lot of good references about him and I'm looking forward to meeting him in person and working with him on the training pitch."

Should Scotland fail to beat Moldova, the national side might need to take something against group winners Denmark at Hampden in their final game, depending on the result of Israel's game against Austria.

Clarke's side will be without in-form striker Lyndon Dykes - who scored the winner against Moldova in September - and fellow attacker Ryan Christie for the game in Chisinau due to suspension.

Kieran Tierney is included in the squad despite missing Arsenal's last three matches due to injury, and Clarke says he expects the defender to train with his club this week and join up with the squad.

Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly is the only player to drop out of the squad from last month.

"It's a group of players who have done very well for their country recently," Clarke said.

"There's one change in the goalkeeping department, bringing in Zander for Liam. It's a normal change, two goalkeepers who are looking to push Craig [Gordon] and Jon McLaughlin above them. It's nice to have a look at both."

'Quick and direct' - who is Jacob Brown?

The inclusion of Brown, 23, will come as a surprise to Scotland fans.

However, the Yorkshireman qualifies through his mother, who was born in Glasgow, and has impressed at Stoke this season having joined last year from Barnsley, where he came through the academy.

He scored 12 times in 82 appearances for the club, and has four goals and four assists this campaign as Stoke aim to get back to the Premier League under Michael O'Neill.

"He's been on the radar for quite a while here," Clarke added. "He almost got an under-21 call-up just before Covid hit.

"Jacob's had a good spell at Stoke and caught my eye. He'll bring us something a little bit different and freshen up the striking area because we're losing Lyndon and Ryan Christie for the first game.

"He's playing as a striker, playing up front in a 3-5-2, he can play as the lone striker. He puts defenders on the back foot, he's quick, direct. If you're playing against Jacob as a defender you know you're in a game."