Euro Championships: Scotland's Steve McCormack adds to squad

"Bringing these lads in will do them the world of good." - Scotland head coach Steve McCormack

Scotland have added four young domestic players to their squad for the European Championships opener against Wales next Friday.

They are Louis Senter, now of Halifax, former Easterhouse Pathers team-mate Gregor Ramsay, Edinburgh Eagles' Lewis Clarke and Finn Murphy.

Head coach Steve McCormack said: "Bringing these lads in will do them the world of good."

Scotland will announce their final 20-man squad on Tuesday.

McCormack, whose side face Wales at Workington's Derwent Park on Friday night, hopes the experience will help the players follow the likes of Davie Scott, who is now a regular with Doncaster.

"They will get the chance to see the likes of Danny Brough, Ben Kavanagh and Joe Wardle - top Super League players - close up and learn from them," added the coach, who has traditionally had to rely on players born outside Scotland.

"We did this with Davie Scott three years ago and look how far he's come since then.

"Hopefully these lads will do the same. Louis has shown he can cope with a step up in rugby this season and one or two of these lads could make the final squad."

Senter, who has impressed with Halifax's second team, plays at stand-off and Ramsay at full-back or loose forward.

Like Ramsay, hooker Clarke is 19, while half-back Murphy is a year younger.

McCormack had already called up eight teenagers to his initial 26-man squad, which included 12 members of the pool that reached the World Cup quarter-finals.

London centre Harvey Burnett, Barrow's Shane Toal, Hull KR winger Jack Stewart, and Richard Harris, who has just moved from London to Warrington, all played for Scotland Under-19s in their Commonwealth Championship campaign in June.

Full-back Alex Walker and second-rower Sonny Esslemont have both made Super League debuts this year for London Broncos and Hull KR respectively.

Joe Wardle is back in the Scotland squad after missing the World Cup

Ryan Maneely, who plays hooker for Warrington Wolves, was previously capped by England at Under-16 level, while Wakefield Trinity loose forward Corbyn Kilday steps up from Scotland Under-18s.

Canterbury Bulldogs half-back Nathan Massey - the only player coming over from Australia for the tournament - is also a new face in the squad along with Broncos' 20-year-old centre Oscar Thomas.

Brough, who is recovering from injury, and Huddersfield team-mate Wardle, who missed the World Cup through injury, were also named in the squad.

However, Matt Russell misses out as the Warrington full-back requires an operation, while forwards Dale Ferguson and Mitchell Stringer are also having surgery.

Three National Rugby League players who were in the World Cup squad are also unavailable - Peter Wallace is injured, Kane Linnett is having surgery and Luke Douglas is suspended.

Veteran forwards Lee Paterson and Iain Morrison are recalled, while Jonathan Walker rejoins brother Adam in the squad having missed the World Cup.

After playing Wales, Scotland travel to Dublin to face Ireland on 25 October and complete their European Championship programme at home to France in Galashiels on 31 October.

Scotland initial squad

Danny Addy (Bradford Bulls), Josh Barlow (Swinton Lions), Sam Barlow (Leigh Centurions), Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants), Harvey Burnett (London Broncos), Brett Carter (Workngton Town), Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles), Sonny Esslemont (Hull KR), Richard Harris (Warrington Wolves), Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers), Alex Hurst (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Ben Kavanagh (Widnes Vikings), Corbyn Kilday (Wakefield Trinity), Ryan Manelly (Warrington Wolves), Nathan Massey (Canterbury Bulldogs), Joe McLean (Gloucestershire All Golds), Iain Morrison (York City Knights), Finn Murphy (Edinburgh Eagles), Lee Paterson (York City Knights), Brett Phillips (Workington Town), Callum Phillips (Workington Town),Gregor Ramsay (Easterhouse Panthers), Louis Senter (Halifax), David Scott (Doncaster), Jack Stewart (Hull KR), Oscar Thomas (London Broncos), Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders), Adam Walker (Hull KR), Alex Walker (London Broncos), Jonathan Walker (Leigh Centurions), Joe Wardle (Huddersfield Giants).