GOUROCK footballer Greg Taylor has earned his first Scotland call-up for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium.

The Kilmarnock left-back was selected by new national team manager Steve Clarke, who has managed Taylor at club level for the past two seasons at Rugby Park.

The 21-year-old is part of a 27-man squad for the ties, with the first game against Cyprus on Saturday June 8 at Hampden Park, and then away to Belgium on the following Tuesday.

Clarke had previously backed Taylor to shine in the national set up before he was appointed as the new head coach earlier this month, saying the former Clydeview Academy pupil deserved a place.

Taylor had been a standout previously for the Scotland Under-21 side, as well as impressing in the Premiership for Killie, making 41 appearances last term.

The full-back was one of four Kilmarnock stars to be picked by Clarke, as well as being one of five uncapped players to make the squad.

Clarke insists Taylor deserves his chance with Liverpool’s Andy Robertson being involved in the Champions League final this weekend and Celtic’s Kieran Tierney ruled out through injury.

He said: “People will probably think, ‘he’s just picking Kilmarnock players for the sake of it’. It’s not true.
“It was a case of promoting Greg up from the very good performances he has had for Scotland Under-21s.”