Luke McCowan can be Scotland's next Callum McGregor as Dundee boss delivers transfer update amid Hibs interest

Tony Docherty wants to see Luke McCowan make his pitch to replace Callum McGregor in the Scotland squad.

The midfielder, who has been the subject of multiple failed bids from Hibs, has become a key player for the Dark Blues and has worn the armband with Joe Shaughnessy out injured. Celtic skipper McGregor recently announced his retirement from the international front and the Dundee manager believes McCowan should be looking to try and push his way into Steve Clarke’s thinking.

Docherty said: “Yeah, possibly. Well, Callum McGregor’s made that decision, and what a fantastic servant he’s been to his country and continues to do that for his club as well. Of course, it’s like what I say in my squad, every situation presents an opportunity. So there’s opportunities for people to maybe stake a claim in that and I’d like all my players to look at that and think, I’ve got an opportunity, if my league form’s good for Dundee, then I might just force my way into the national team.

“Again, I don’t like just speaking all the time about Luke McCowan. I think others, there’s players in the squad, and private conversations I’ve had with them, they’ve all got ambitions, that they want to be part of the national set-up.

“That’s ambition from players, and that’s the type of players I want to fill my dressing-room with. So, yeah, I think there has to be an ambition. Everybody wants to go as far as they can and international recognition has to be that for a lot of players.”

McCowan is now in the last year of his contract and his manager claimed the club is still in talks over an extension. Docherty confirmed: “It’s still ongoing. The conversations we have with Luke, we have daily, but again, there’s nothing to report on just now.

“Every case