Rhodes and Ross in Scotland frame

08 November 2010 17:00

Jordan Rhodes and Nicholas Ross have been drafted into the Scotland under-21 squad to face Northern Ireland in a friendly later this month.

Rhodes has been in fine goalscoring form for Huddersfield, while Ross has impressed with newly-promoted Clydesdale Bank Premier League side Inverness. Both could be involved in the international challenge match at Firhill on November 17.

Coach Billy Stark said: "Jordan Rhodes scored 23 goals in 50 games last season in League One for Huddersfield Town and he has scored five in 10 this year, which is an exceptional goal-scoring record for a young player."

He added: "He is the son of the former goalkeeper Andy Rhodes, who played for the likes of Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone, and he has completed five years of schooling in Scotland so is eligible to be selected for us and is keen to play.

"Another player coming in is Nicholas Ross.

"He has started 10 matches for Inverness Caledonian Thistle this season already and is establishing himself as a first team player. He deserves a chance."

Stark added: "The backbone of the squad is fixed in my mind but there will always be room for other players to come into the squad.

"I have worked with most of these players at under-19s level so many of them have played together already.

"A number of these players are playing regular first team football at their clubs which reflects well for us as we should have a more experienced squad to kick off with."

Squad: M Andrews (Falkirk), J Barclay (Falkirk), M Ridgers (Hearts); C Booth (Hibernian), G Hanley (Blackburn), P Hanlon (Hibernian), R Perry (Rangers), S Saunders (Motherwell), C Thomson (Hearts); T Cairney (Hull), J Fleck (Rangers), K Hutton (Rangers), B Inman (Newcastle), L Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday), N Ross (Inverness), D Wotherspoon (Hibernian), G Wylde (Rangers); L Griffiths (Dundee), A MacDonald (Burnley), J Rhodes (Huddersfield), J Russell (Dundee United).

Source: PA