Scotland: Steve Clarke turns to fresh faces as injuries mount
Devlin has played every league minute at right-back for Aberdeen as they have won their first 12 games in all competitions this season.
The 30-year-old joined from Livingston last year and gets his chance to impress with Hickey and Patterson on the sidelines and Johnston left out.
It’s been a more difficult start to the season for Preston’s Lindsay. The Championship side have shipped 12 goals in their first seven games and sit 22nd.
The Glasgow-born defender started his career at Partick Thistle, before spells with Barnsley and Stoke City.
“It’s a chance for Nicky and Liam,” Clarke said. “Both are experienced, dependable defenders who have had good club careers without the international recognition they can hopefully get in the upcoming games.”
Irving, meanwhile, came through the Hearts academy before moving to the relatively-unknown German side Turkgucu Munchen when his contract expired.
He then moved to SK Austria Klagenfurt, and impressed sufficiently in the Austrian top flight for West Ham to take a chance on him in January 2023.
After spending six months back in Klagenfurt on loan, the left-footed playmaker has made two Premier League appearances this season under Julien Lopetegui.
A Scotland debut would cap a rapid rise for the 24-year-old, who less than three years ago was playing in the German third division.
“He surprised everybody with the choices he made to move abroad and in a roundabout way he’s ended up in the Premier League,” Clarke added.
“It’s important people recognise there are different ways to get to the top.”
