Dalkeith to LA pays off for Porteous with Scotland recall

Centre-half Porteous has earned a Scotland recall after impressing for LA FC in MLS, with his last cap coming against Greece in March 2025.

Ryan Porteous has been recalled to the Scotland squad by manager Sebastien Pocognoli following an injury to Swansea City's Stephen Welsh. The 27-year-old centre-half, who moved to LA FC in August 2024, has impressed in Major League Soccer and earned his return to international football after his last cap against Greece in March 2025.

Porteous has made 52 appearances for LA FC and says he's enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons in the last three or four years. He's faced top-level opposition in MLS, including playing against Lionel Messi when LA FC faced Inter Miami. "You're playing against world-class players," Porteous said. "Even if you take Messi out of it, you're still playing against probably good Premier League forwards."

The defender from Midlothian began his career at Hibernian, where he made over 150 appearances before moving to Watford. He now hopes to rekindle his Scotland career in a Nations League match against North Macedonia in Glasgow on Friday.