Midfielder Barry Bannan thanks Sheffield Wednesday for his Scotland recall

The 26-year-old midfielder has been one of the stand-out performers in the Championship this season, following his summer move to Hillsborough.

He has not featured for Scotland since their European Qualifier against Gibralter almost a year ago.

But he has been recalled for the Scots’ friendly against the Czech Republic on March 24, after impressing boss Gordon Strachan.

“It’s brilliant and of course I’m delighted to be called up again,” said Bannan.

“It’s any young Scottish boy’s dream to play for their country and to be able to do that 20 times already, it’s great to be involved again.

“I have to thank Sheffield Wednesday for their part in giving me the platform to show what I can do.

“I think the main thing for me has been consistency and playing week in week out.

“The head coach and chairman have shown a lot of faith in me and after not playing as much as I wanted to before coming here, I’m now as confident as ever.”

There will be a familiar face in the Czech squad, with Bannan’s Owls team-mate Daniel Pudil also receiving an international call-up.

“It’ll be good to come up against him and hopefully I’ll have the last laugh,” joked Bannan.

“The Czechs are a solid side, I know Danny is a top player and it shows because he has a good chance of going with them to the Euros this summer.”

Leeds United’s Liam Cooper and Liam Bridcutt have both been called up to Scotland’s squad for the home friendly with Denmark on March 29.

Strachan has named two different squads for his side’s two forthcoming friendlies which begin with a trip to the Czech Republic on Thursday, March 24.

And while Bridcutt and Cooper have not been named in the squad to travel to Prague, both could feature against the Danes on Tuesday, March 29.

Cooper could be in line for his full international debut for Scotland having already played for the country’s under-17s and under-19s sides.

The centre-back was born in Hull but qualifies to play for Scotland through his grand-parents.

Bridcutt was born in Reading but qualifies to play for the Scottish national side through his Edinburgh-born grandfather.

The Sunderland loanee midfielder already has one cap for the Tartan Army, which he earned against Serbia in March 2013.