We’ve reached the final international break of the domestic season and while it’s a welcomed opportunity to recharge the batteries with eight league games plus a Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to, a number of the Pittodrie dressing room are heading off to represent their country on the continent in both friendly and competitive fixtures.

Scotland First Team

Graeme Shinnie and Scott McKenna

Alex McLeish oversaw a successful UEFA National League campaign as Scotland finished top of their three team group to guarantee a play-off next year, however qualification from the traditional route would mean they would bypass the semi-finals and head straight to the European Championships that’s scheduled to take place across Europe next summer.

2019 will see the European Championship qualifiers played out in it’s entirety and Scotland have been paired in Group I with Belgium, Russia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan and San Marino. The top two teams will qualify and Scotland will fancy their chances this week when they play the two lowest ranked nations in the group with trips to Kazakhstan and San Marino.

The Dons duo of McKenna and Shinnie have been regulars since former Don McLeish dawned the Hampden hotseat for a second time last year and both are back for the start of the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Despite nursing an injury Scott has travelled with the team to Astana and if fit would be expected to start at the heart of McLeish’s defence on Thursday, a position he has held since gaining his first cap against Costa Rica this time last year.

His Aberdeen captain Shinnie has also retained his place in the national set up. Graeme played his part in the successful Nations League campaign and will be looking to add to his five caps, something he would deserve given his excellent recent form in the Aberdeen midfield.

Former Dons Kenny McLean and Ryan Fraser are also in the squad as Scotland look to get their campaign off to the perfect start ahead of the summer matches with Cyprus and Belgium. The match in Astana will kick off 3pm UK time with the San Marino match on Sunday a 5pm kick off.

Northern Ireland First Team

Niall McGinn

A mainstay in the Northern Ireland squad, Niall McGinn has once again been called up to represent his country in the latest qualifiers. The Nations League proved to be a difficult campaign for the Ulstermen has they were relegated from Group B following four defeats. The opening Euro qualifiers will see Northern Ireland host Estonia and Belarus at Windsor Park with McGinn aiming for his 55^th cap.

Scotland Under 21s

Lewis Ferguson

The 19 year-old will jet off with the Scotland U21s as Scott Gemmill’s team travel to Spain for two friendlies against Mexico and Sweden in preparation for their European Championship qualifiers later in the year. Lewis’s teammate Connor McLennan was in the original squad for the double-header, but withdrew due to injury and the Dons midfielder, Ferguson will be available for selection for Friday’s match with Mexico and then the clash with Sweden in Marbella on Monday.

Scotland Under 19s

Dean Campbell and Archie Mair

Dean & Archie

Billy Stark has called upon the services of Dean Campbell and Archie Mair for three Elite Round fixtures in Portugal as they look to qualify for the U19 European Championships. A strong campaign last year saw the team qualify for the Elite round with the winners of the mini group qualifying for the championships in Armenia this summer. Scotland are in the difficult group of Portugal, Turkey and Cyprus, but they’ll take confidence from a strong First qualifying round as they prepare for three games in six days.

Dean has established himself in the Aberdeen first team of late and more than played his part in recent results in Glasgow and the 18 year-old is joined by his teammate Archie Mair, who is another regular at youth level and was most recently in goal for the excellent 1-1 draw with Spain last time out.

Scotland U17s

Connor Barron

Connor Barron

UEFA Elite qualification campaign will also face the Scotland U17s this week, but they’ll have home advantage when they play the three ties with a place at the European Championships in Ireland the target. Connor Barron is the soul Aberdeen representative in the squad that will face Portugal on Wednesday at the Simple Digital Arena, Paisley – kick off 6PM before returning to the home of St Mirren three days later to face Russia, this time a 4PM kick off. The final match takes place at 5PM at the Energy Check Stadium, Firhill on Tuesday. If you’re in the Glasgow area why not head along and support Connor and his teammates, entry is free.

Republic of Ireland U17s

Luke Turner

With the Republic of Ireland hosting the U17 European Championships this summer the national team do not need to qualify for the tournament and therefore will be playing a series of friendlies in preparation.

Aberdeen U18 defender Luke Turner has once again earned a call up for his country and will be in the squad to face Finland twice on home soil. A regular in the Aberdeen U18 team under Scott Anderson and Barry Robson, Luke has impressed in his first season as a professional at Pittodrie.

Good luck to all of our international players this week!

Graeme Shinnie | from the Scotland camp in Kazakhstan