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Motherwell striker Ross McCormack has been drafted into the Scotland squad for the friendly against the Czech Republic in Prague on May 30.

The Scotland Under-21 striker has impressed George Burley who is using the game as a warm-up for the World Cup qualifiers which start in September with a trip to Macedonia.

Allan McGregor, Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch and David Weir of Rangers have been omitted as has Celtic midfielder Scott Brown.Burley said of his selection: "I've got a youthful squad, there are five uncapped players and they will get a feel for it

."We have 16 players who are 26 and under, so it is a squad who are progressing in their careers and who are still improving. We are looking forward to the next few years.

"It's a game at the end of the season and we are looking for young, fresh players with something to prove."

One of those players is Motherwell forward McCormack and Burley added: "Ross has had a good season. He has done well with Billy Stark in the Under-21s.

"I'm a firm believer that, if you do well with the Under-21s, you should get to move up to the senior squad.

"There is no doubt the boy has got ability and I'm delighted to move him up."

Speaking of skipper Barry Ferguson's absence for the trip to Prague, Burley explained: "Barry has been struggling for the last few months with an ankle problem and, because of the amount of games he's played, I thought it was important to allow that to settle down."

Burley also waded into the Rangers fixture row ahead of next week's UEFA Cup final in Manchester.

He added: "I think it's ridiculous at this stage of the season that I'm naming the squad and Rangers still have seven games to play.

"It's something that shouldn't be allowed to happen and it's something that the SPL and everyone in Scottish football has got to look at.

"It shouldn't happen to any club. They are being punished for their success in reaching the UEFA Cup final and that has to be looked at in the fullness of time."

Squad: Gordon (Sunderland), Marshall (Norwich); Anderson (Sunderland), Berra (Hearts), Caldwell (Celtic), Dailly (Rangers), Hutton (Tottenham), McManus (Celtic), McNaughton (Cardiff), Naysmith (Sheff Utd), Whittaker (Rangers); Fletcher (Man Utd), Hartley (Celtic), Morrison (West Brom), Rae (Cardiff), Robson (Celtic), Thomson (Rangers); Boyd (Rangers), Fletcher (Hibs), McCormack (Motherwell), McFadden (Birmingham), Maloney (Aston Villa), Miller (Derby).