Stephen Kingsley's Scotland omission mystifies me as Hearts ace is better than Greg Taylor - Ryan Stevenson

Mikel Arteta can’t believe Ben White has been snubbed for an England call-up because he’s so comfy at both full back and centre back.

Listening to the Arsenal boss earlier in the week he might as well have been talking about Stephen Kingsley and Scotland. For the life of me I can’t understand why the Hearts defender isn’t preparing to take on Ukraine at Hampden this evening.

Especially since Grant Hanley has pulled out of the original squad injured. Stephen can play centre half or left back equally well and that versatility is huge at international level. He is quick, strong and never seems to be in bother because of the way he reads the game. He was outstanding again in Sunday’s win at Motherwell. Not only as part of a defensive unit that soaked up so much pressure but his pass for the third goal was exquisite.

It’s hard enough to see that pass at pitch level but to execute it with the perfect weight in between the midfielder and defenders? Pure class. He’s simply a very good footballer. And apart from all that I see a player that team mates look to as a leader and for inspiration.

I know what people will say here - he’s anti-Hibs, blah, blah - but I would have Stephen Kingsley ahead of Ryan Porteous all day long. Porteous has been a very good player for Hibs. He’s a talent.

But over the last year and a half Stephen has been one of Hearts’ best players in a side that cruised to third, got into a cup final and is now competing in Europe. I’d say he’s a better full-back than Greg Taylor too. What a free transfer he’s been. You’d pay heavy money for him now.

Listen, Steve Clarke was my old manager in the youth set-up at Chelsea and I have massive respect for him and what he’s done for the national team.

But I’m