Scotland manager Berti Vogts declared the time is right for Under-21 star Stephen Pearson to step up to the full national side.
The Motherwell youngster is the only fresh face in a 25-man squad to take on Holland in the Euro 2004 play-offs, although Preston goalkeeper Jonathan Gould is back from the international wilderness for the first time in almost three years.
Injuries have hit the midfield the hardest, with skipper Paul Lambert still ruled out and Colin Cameron and Gavin Rae both doubts.
Vogts was confident the latter pair might be available for the first leg, at Hampden Park on Saturday November 15th, or failing that the decider in Amsterdam the following Wednesday. But the German insisted Pearson's elevation had been on merit anyway.
He said: "We especially need someone on the left of midfield and he is a left-footed player. "He is aggressive, a good boy and he is also young. He did very well for the Under-21s."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has already made it clear he would like to sign Pearson, who has just turned 21 and whose Motherwell contract expires in the summer.
Vogts said: "It would be a good move for Stephen Pearson and for Celtic - and I hope also for Motherwell. I hope a lot of money comes over from Celtic to Motherwell."
Rangers striker Steven Thompson is also missing through injury, but Neil McCann, Paul Dickov, Paul Devlin and Andy Gray all rejoin the squad after missing out on the final group game against Lithuania.
Scotland squad: Goalkeepers: Neil Alexander (Cardiff), Robert Douglas (Celtic), Jonathan Gould (Preston) Defenders: Graham Alexander (Preston), Steven Caldwell (Newcastle United), Christian Dailly (West Ham), Jackie McNamara (Celtic), Steven Pressley (Hearts), Maurice Ross (Rangers), Andy Webster (Hearts), Lee Wilkie (Dundee) Midfielders: Colin Cameron (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul Devlin (Watford), Barry Ferguson (Blackburn Rovers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Gary Naysmith (Everton), Stephen Pearson (Motherwell), Gavin Rae (Dundee) Forwards: Steve Crawford (Dunfermline Athletic), Paul Dickov (Leicester City), Andy Gray (Bradford), Don Hutchison (West Ham), Neil McCann (Southampton), James McFadden (Everton), Kenny Miller (Wolverhampton Wanderers).