Gregor Townsend recalls Finn Russell for Scotland's game with New Zealand

Finn Russell has won a Scotland call-up for Sunday's game against New Zealand after fellow out-half Adam Hastings was ruled out through injury.

Russell was a controversial omission from Scotland’s original squad for the Autumn Nations Series but is back in the fold ahead of the All Blacks visit to Murrayfield.

Blair Kinghorn and Ross Thompson were also chosen ahead of the 30-year-old Racing 92 playmaker with Gregor Townsend citing "form and consistency" levels as the key criteria for his selection.

Kinghorn started in the narrow defeat by Australia, scoring a try before missing a late penalty which would have handed Scotland victory.

Gloucester No 10 Hastings came in for the second game of the series against Fiji and scored a try but was forced off early in the second half of the 28-12 victory with a head injury, while he was also having a knee issue assessed.

Finn Russell joins the Scotland squad with Adam Hastings returning to his club. George Turner remains with the team as preparations continue for Sunday's game against New Zealand.#AsOne pic.twitter.com/1pbyykIOKe

After the game Townsend said he had not spoken to Russell since informing him last month he was not in the original squad but the head coach insisted that was not unusual.

"If people are not in the squad I don’t phone them up regularly unless there’s something to talk about," he said. "But I’d imagine he’d be available.

"He was disappointed not to be in the squad. If we decide to bring another 10, he’ll be one of the ones we’ll be looking at."

Hooker George Turner has brushed off an injury concern after scoring one of Scotland’s four tries on Saturday.

A brief Scottish Rugby Union statement on Twitter read: "Finn Russell joins the Scotland squad with Adam Hastings