Johnny Russell has a big game on tap for Sunday as Sporting Kansas City look to dispatch Real Salt Lake (3 pm ET; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN, TVAS) and advance to the Western Conference Championship.
No matter the outcome, Russell will then have a couple of more big games after that as the SKC forward has been called up to the Scotland national team for the final group stage matches of the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League.
Russell and Scotland will visit Albania on Nov. 17 before hosting Israel on Nov. 20 during this month’s FIFA international window. If SKC advances, he'll return in time for their next Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs game.
In his first season in Kansas City, Russell has racked up 12 goals and a team-best 12 assists across all competitions, leading to a return to the Scotland national team.
He’s earned four of his eight career caps since June, and has started three international matches this year, including both of his country’s UEFA Nations League to date.
Scotland is currently in second place in Group 1 of UEFA Nations League C, three points behind Israel while owning a goal difference tiebreaker over Albania. Scotland can finish atop the group if they win both remaining contests, which would secure promotion to League B for the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League.
