FORMER Rangers manager Alex McLeish today revealed he seriously considered handing Ibrox centre half David Bates a Scotland call-up.

McLeish, who was named national team boss for a second time last month, has named three Rangers players in his 27 man squad for the friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary later this month.

Jason Cummings, Jamie Murphy and Russell Martin will all be involved with their country in the games at Hampden on Friday, March 23, and Budapest on Tuesday, March 27.

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However, McLeish confessed that he had looked at Bates, who has been featuring regularly and performing well for Graeme Murty's side in recent weeks, as well.

He feels the 21-year-old, who was stretchered off in the first half of the 3-2 defeat to Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday with a foot injury, has done superbly for the Govan club.

But he thinks that Bates, who is facing a battle to be fit for the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden next month, has to develop further before he can play for Scotland.

“I looked at David over the last couple of weeks and I think it’s a bit early for him," He’s been doing really well and he’s a big unit and I felt for him on Sunday.

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“This squad might just have come too soon for him, but he’s a big rugged centre half in the old school kind of fashion and he’s learning very quickly. He’s had to come in for injured players and he has really progressed.”

Meanwhile, McLeish has admitted he can understand why there is a clamour for former Rangers striker Kris Boyd to be called into the Scotland squad - despite the fact the centre forward is now 34.

Boyd took his tally for the 2017/18 campaign to 19 with a goal in the 3-2 triumph over Ladbrokes Premiership strugglers Ross County at Rugby Park on Saturday.

The 18-times capped player scored seven goals for his country - but he last featured in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein way back in 2010.

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However, McLeish has challenged the players he has named in his squad for the Costa Rica and Hungary matches, including Cummings and Murphy, to provide goals.

“There is a case for Boydy,” he said. “I have seen that over the last couple of weeks - even before they were saying Boydy should get a call up. He is scoring goals. Stevie Clarke has given him a new lease of life.

“But I felt it was better to go forward with these guys. It is up to them to step into Kris Boyd’s footsteps. Can these guys can be mavericks for us at Hampden the way big Boydy was? He should be a role model for them.”