Short-staffed Scotland head for Kaunas

Pooled together for a fourth UEFA European Championship in succession, Lithuania and Scotland will look to get their Group I campaigns off to a positive start as they meet for a seventh time.

Team news
• Fit-again midfielders Dominykas Galkevičius and Mindaugas Panka have returned for Lithuania along with striker Andrius Velička and previously-rested goalkeeper Žydrūnas Karčemarskas. FK Sūduva striker Ričardas Beniušis, 30, is the only surprise selection in Raimondas Žutautas' squad. The coach explained: "We needed a strong, tall striker as an alternative and Ričardas fits the bill."

• Lithuania squad
Goalkeepers: Paulius Grybauskas (PFC Neftçi), Giedrius Arlauskis (FC Rubin Kazan), Žydrūnas Karčemarskas (Gaziantepspor)
Defenders: Marius Stankevičius (UC Sampdoria), Arūnas Klimavičius (FC Sibir Novosibirsk), Tadas Kijanskas (Jagiellonia Białystok), Ramūnas Radavičius (FK Ekranas), Andrius Skerla (Jagiellonia Białystok), Marius Žaliūkas (Heart of Midlothian FC)
Midfielders: Kęstutis Ivaškevičius (Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC), Mindaugas Panka (Widzew Łódź), Deividas Česnauskis (Aris Thessaloniki FC), Edgaras Česnauskis (FC Dinamo Moskva), Deividas Šemberas (PFC CSKA Moskva), Saulius Mikoliūnas (FC Arsenal Kyiv), Vytautas Lukša (FC Arsenal Kyiv), Dominykas Galkevičius (FK Ekranas), Linas Pilibaitis (Győri ETO FC).
Forwards: Darvydas Šernas (Widzew Łódź), Tomas Danilevičius (AS Livorno Calcio), Andrius Velička (Rangers FC) Robertas Poškus (İnter Bakı PİK), Ričardas Beniušis (FK Sūduva).

• Craig Levein has recalled 40-year-old David Weir following the Rangers FC defender's omission from the squads for the friendlies against the Czech Republic and Sweden. With Gary Caldwell recovering from two hip operations during the summer, the Scotland manager has opted for the experienced centre-back who could win his 66th cap in Kaunas. Rochdale-born Blackpool FC goalkeeper Matt Gilks is also given a first call-up while midfielder Paul Hartley returns after a useful start to the season with new club Aberdeen FC.

• Defenders Andy Webster (hamstring), Lee Wallace (ankle) and Kevin MacNaughton (hamstring) have all been ruled out of the trip to Kaunas along with striker Chris Iwelumo. Striker Steven Fletcher (foot) is also a doubt for the Group I opener but will make the journey along with right-back Alan Hutton, who has made a quicker than expected recovery from a groin injury. Late call-ups for Jay McEveley and Garry O'Connor have helped swell the ranks.

• Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Allan McGregor (Rangers FC), David Marshall (Cardiff City FC), Matt Gilks (Blackpool FC)
Defenders: Christophe Berra (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers FC), Allan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough FC), Kevin McNaughton (Cardiff City FC), Lee Wallace (Heart of Midlothian FC), Andy Webster (Rangers FC), Steven Whittaker (Rangers FC), David Weir (Rangers FC), Jay McEveley (Barnsley FC)
Midfielders: Charlie Adam (Blackpool FC), Scott Brown (Celtic FC), Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion FC), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United FC), Paul Hartley (Aberdeen FC), Lee McCulloch (Rangers FC), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion FC), Barry Robson (Middlesbrough FC), Steven Naismith (Rangers FC)
Forwards: Kris Boyd (Middlesbrough FC), Steven Fletcher (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), James McFadden (Birmingham City FC), Kenny Miller (Rangers FC), Garry O'Connor (Birmingham City FC)

Match background
• Lithuania's record in six matches against Scotland reads W1 D1 L4 (W1 D1 L1 at home).

• The sides drew 0-0 in their first meeting in Vilnius on 5 September 1998, two days shy of exactly 12 years before their upcoming fixture.

• Since then, they have been unable to avoid each other in European Championship qualifying, locking horns in both UEFA EURO 2004 and UEFA EURO 2008 preliminary round games.

• The three contests between the two hopefuls in Lithuania have been reasonably cagey to date, producing one victory apiece and an aggregate scoreline of 4-4.

• Scotland won 2-1 on their last trip to Lithuania – for a UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier – but some members of the squad may have some more painful recent memories. Scottish titleholders Rangers FC were eliminated from the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round by FK Kaunas following a 0-0 home draw and a 2-1 loss at the S. Darius & S. Girenas stadium, the venue for this game.