Shaun Maloney has returned to the Scotland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia.

The 33-year-old was left out of Gordon Strachan's squad to face Malta earlier this month, but has impressed for Hull City recently and has been recalled.

Maloney is the only new inclusion in Strachan's squad for the qualifiers to be played on October 8 and October 11.

Leigh Griffiths is included after recovering from a hamstring injury, with Oliver Burke also selected after scoring his first goal for new club RB Leipzig at the weekend.

Strachan has picked three left backs in his squad, with Lee Wallace, Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson all selected.

Meanwhile, James Forrest has secured a place for himself on the back of his impressive form for Celtic this season.

"He brings professionalism, ability, intellect, willingness to play for Scotland, so he's got all these traits we want here," Strachan said when asked about Maloney's recall.

"We've still got some young lads in the squad again. As I've said before, if they're good enough we'll bypass the under 19s, the under 21s which we did with Ollie [Burke]."

Scotland head into next month's World Cup qualifiers on the back of a 5-1 opening group game win over Malta, setting up Strachan's men nicely for the campaign ahead.

But the Dark Blues now rather tougher tests in their efforts to make it to Russia in two years time.

GOALKEEPERS: Craig Gordon (Celtic), Jack Hamilton (Hearts), David Marshall (Hull City).

DEFENDERS: Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Gordon Greer (Blackburn), Grant Hanley (Newcastle United), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Callum Paterson (Hearts), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Lee Wallace (Rangers)

MIDFIELDERS: Ikechi Anya (Derby County), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Oliver Burke (RB Leipzig), Darren Fletcher (West Brom), James Forrest (Celtic), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Hibernian), Barrie McKay (Rangers), Shaun Maloney (Hull City), James Morrison (West Brom, Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United), Robert Snodgrass (Hull City)

STRIKERS: Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County), Steven Naismith (Norwich City)