Bardsley has not represented his country for almost two years after appearing in the 5-1 friendly defeat to the USA in the summer of 2012 - seven months after his last competitive game in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Cyprus.
The full-back was named in Gordon Strachan’s squad today.
Bardsley was not in Strachan’s plans after the former Middlesbrough boss took charge of Scotland in January last year,
Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has also been called up by Strachan, although there remain doubts over the 26-year-old’s fitness.
Fletcher was due to return to full training today after three weeks of treatment on a troublesome Achilles problem.
Fletcher’s reaction to that increase in his rehabilitation will determine if the £12million frontman has a chance of featuring in either this weekend’s trip to Arsenal or the Capital One Cup final eight days later.