Former Rangers Academy talent Craig Halkett has been rewarded for his fine form with Hearts by earning a call-up to the Scotland national team squad.
The 26-year-old centre-back came through the youth ranks at Ibrox but never made an appearance for the first team before leaving for Livingston in January 2016.
Now a key player in Hearts’ Euro-chasing side, the defender has bounced back from early disappointments in his career to make it into Steve Clarke’s squad.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim Craig Halkett is set to get international recognition amid a series of injuries to Scotland’s traditional defensive options.
This includes to Rangers-bound John Souttar – Halkett’s Jambo teammate who has an ankle knock – and Leeds and Nottingham Forest pair Lee Cooper and Scott McKenna.
Craig Halkett isn’t the only player to be handed his maiden call-up either, with ex-Ross County and now Sunderland striker Ross Stewart also set to join the Scotland squad.
Ex-Rangers kid Craig Halkett earns Scotland call
It points to the progress made by both players with Halkett proving that even when things haven’t gone right in a moment at Rangers there is still plenty of time to develop elsewhere in your career.
Craig Halkett has also proven a thorn in the Ibrox club’s side in the past, scoring his first goal for Livingston in a 1-0 win over Rangers in April 2016.
The defender also scored a late equaliser for Hearts against Rangers in a potentially pivotal 1-1 draw at Ibrox earlier in the season.
Rangers have one representative in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad as Ryan Jack makes a triumphant return from injury to join up with the team for the friendly with Poland.
Scotland will also play the loser of Wales’ Playoff clash against Austria, with Scotland’s own World Cup playoff with Ukraine delayed until June.
The talented Rangers midfielder will be offered a shot of redemption with the Scotland team after missing out on the European Championships in the summer.
