MOTHERWELL player-assistant manager James McFadden believes the only surprise about Chris Cadden's call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad is that it did not come sooner.

The 19-year-old Well midfielder was originally omitted by boss Ricky Sbragia for the European Championship qualifying matches against Macedonia and Ukraine on September 2 and 6 respectively.

Fir Park boss Mark McGhee, who also doubles as assistant to Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, expressed his disappointment at his player's omission.

Read more: James McFadden: Move to Germany can help Oliver Burke become a Scotland starGlasgow Times: 13/08/16 LADBROKES PREMIERSHIP . MOTHERWELL v ST JOHNSTONE (1-2) . FIR PARK - MOTHERWELL . Motherwell's Chris Cadden celebrates his goal.

However, Cadden was drafted in for the first time on Sunday, the day after he was named man of the match in the goalless Ladbrokes Premiership draw with Dundee.

Blackburn left-back Stephen Hendrie was also called up after Brentford's Lewis Macleod and Kilmarnock's Callum McFadzean dropped out.

McFadden, speaking at a William Hill media event at Hampden Park, put forward his case for the Motherwell teenager.

He said: "It is (deserved). We made a lot of noise last week because he wasn't involved.

"Chris has played so many games for us and he has been excellent for us in the majority of them.

"It is not often a young player comes into the team and is so consistent from the first game and Chris has been.

"He is a mainstay in our team and he is one that we look at to win us games and make a real mark on the games for us.

"It is no surprise that he was a late call up, the only surprise was that he wasn't in the initial squad."

Scotland lie fourth in European Under-21 Championship qualifying group three - six points adrift of leaders France and four behind Iceland and Macedonia.