What Hearts and Hibs had to say about Scotland snubs for key players

Capital bosses Robbie Neilson and Shaun Maloney have expressed their disappointment that Scotland counterpart Steve Clarke chose not to reward their in-form defenders with a space in his squad for the upcoming friendlies.

Hearts’ Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley and Hibs’ Ryan Porteous and Chris Cadden had all been linked with possible call-ups but, missing out this time, their club bosses have urged to keep up those standards, with Maloney telling his players “I’m sure there will be recognition of that down the line”.

“Ultimately it's up to Steve to decide,” said Hearts boss Neilson, when asked about Halkett and Kingsley.