Gordon Strachan has named Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton has retained his place in the Scotland squad for the opening 2018 World Cup qualifier against Malta.

Scotland kick off their campaign with an away fixture in Ta'Qali on Sunday, September 4.

The national team will be without captain Scott Brown who announced his retirement from international football ahead of the new campaign due to a string of injury problems.

Defenders Alan Hutton, Andy Robertson and striker Chris Martin, who withdrew before the last fixtures, return to the fold.

Barrie McKay and John McGinn are also included after making an impact in early internationals in 2016 however Shaun Maloney, Ross McCormack and Matt Phillips miss out.

Charlie Mulgrew misses out after leaving Celtic at the end of the 2015/16 campaign. Strachan has called him up to every squad since the Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Gibraltar in March 2015.

Scotland will also face England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania over the next 13 months in a bid to book their place at the tournament in Russia.