Ryan Gauld and Johnny Russell in Scotland thoughts despite MLS pair's squad omission

Johnny Russell #7 of Sporting Kansas City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

John Carver has sent encouragment to Scotland’s stateside stars and insisted Johnny Russell and Ryan Gauld are in the national team’s thoughts, despite their recent squad omission.

Russell is on-form at Kansas City and recently became top Scottish scorer in MLS history while Gauld has impressed at Vancouver Whitecaps since his summer move from Farense in Portugal.

Despite rave reviews in the USA neither has made the cut for Steve Clarke’s squad since Russell was last called up more than two years ago and he has feared his international career might be over.