McKenna had not played for club or country since September 15 after suffering a hamstring injury in training that ruled him out of Scotland’s Nations League double-header against Croatia and Portugal earlier this month. The return of the former Aberdeen and Nottingham Forest centre-back will come as a major boost to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke, who was short of defensive options in the most recent camp.

McKenna showed no ill-effects from his month-long lay-off as the 27-year-old completed the full 90+8 minutes to help Las Palmas claim their first win of the season, and their first since February, to move off the bottom of the La Liga table, leapfrogging Valencia on goal difference with the two teams locked on six points after 10 matches.

Las Palmas fell behind to a Pepelu penalty after 12 minutes but were level at half-time through Alex Munoz’ 43rd minute equaliser. Former Rangers forward Fabio Silva, who joined Las Palmas on loan from Wolves in the summer after spending the second half of last season on loan at Ibrox, put his side ahead early in the second half with a neat finish before Valencia were reduced to 10 men with Pepelu earning a straight red card for an off the ball incident.