Scottish Gossip: Kevin McDonald's Scotland call-up, Jerome Thomas in Hearts talks

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Hearts are in advanced talks with 32-year-old former Crystal Palace winger Jerome Thomas, head coach Robbie Neilson has revealed. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson insists Jerome Thomas will not be earning Premier League wages at Tynecastle should the 32-year-old trialist win a contract but says the former Portsmouth, West Brom and Crystal Palace player will be able to develop as a coach. (Daily Record)

Kevin McDonald learned he will be a surprise call-up to Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad for next month's Euro 2016 Group D qualifiers against Poland and Gibraltar as the uncapped 26-year-old defender signed a new three-year deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers. (The Herald)

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits he would not be surprised to see uncapped full-back Graeme Shinnie's name in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad when it is announced on Monday. (The Herald)

Jerome Thomas is training with Hearts after being released by Crystal Palace

Former Leeds United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen says playing football prepared him for his battle against cancer. (The Scotsman)

Paul Sturrock says that Sir Alex Ferguson phoned him while he was lying in hospital after collapsing in the Tannadice dugout and told the then under-pressure Dundee United manager that he had to get rid of his under-performing players rather than try to change their attitudes. (Daily Record)

Uefa president Michel Platini has knocked back a bid to strike medals for Dundee United's 1984 side following allegations that the French referee was paid £50,000 to help Roma, who went on to lose to Liverpool in the final, win their European Cup semi-final against the Tannadice outfit. (Daily Record)

Former Motherwell midfielder Simo Valakari says he would be "honoured" to manage the Fir Park side after the sacking of Ian Baraclough. (The Sun, print edition)

Motherwell's Stephen McManus says the dressing-room bust-up that followed their League Cup defeat by Morton was tame compared to the behaviour of fellow defender Bobo Balde while they were both at Celtic. (Daily Record)

Kevin McDonald has reportedly been told he will be called up by Scotland on Monday

Rangers manager Mark Warburton, stung by criticism of their midweek defeat by St Johnstone, says his side are not far away from being able to match Scottish Premiership champions Celtic despite the Championship outfit's Scottish League Cup exit. (The Scotsman)

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits he would be as confident as Celtic counterpart Ronny Deila about winning the league if the Dons had 10 times the budget of their closest rivals. (The Scotsman)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila insists that winning the domestic treble is not as easy as some might say. (The Herald)

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has revealed for the first time how he feared Hearts would go to the wall despite him handing his first club a six-figure gift when he left them to join Sunderland in a £9m transfer in 2007. (The Herald)

New Partick Thistle signing Ryan Edwards is determined to be a success in Scottish football to make up for his father's failure to make the first team at Rangers. (Daily Record, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former amateur champion Bradley Neil put a disappointing start to his professional career behind him as the 19-year-old finished second at stage one of the European Tour qualifying school at Collingtree. (Daily Express, print edition)