Under 21s Under New Leadership

07 November 2012 13:06
It may be just for one game but Ricky Sbragia wants to carry on the good work with the Under 21s

With Billy Stark stepping into the interim manager’s shoes for the full international squad, promotion, albeit temporary, called for Ricky Sbragia to announce and steer the Under 21 squad which will be taking on Portugal on 14 November. Sbragia knows most of the players in his 18-player squad as he has been taking the under 19’s for some time now. The squad was actually selected by Stark before he moved upwards to the full squad with Celtic duo Stuart Findlay and Marcus Fraser,  Rangers midfielder Lewis MacLeod and Hearts forward Callum Paterson getting their first calls to the national cause. Islam Feruz, who scored a hat-trick for Scotland Under-19s in last month’s UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifier against Switzerland, has also been named in the squad. The new-look under-21 squad, featuring players born in 1992 or later, are preparing for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers, which begin next year.Sbragia said: "I am stepping in as under-21 coach for one match, so having experience of working with many of the players, and staff, does make the transition easier for all of us. Players like Stuart Findlay, Marcus Fraser, Lewis MacLeod, Islam Feruz and Calum Paterson have done very well at under-19 level and it is pleasing to see them taking the next step. I actually know most of the other players in the squad, having assisted Billy on a few occasions recently, and after taking an under-20 squad to The Netherlands earlier this year. It’s an exciting squad. Stuart Findlay is a 1995 and has done very well to move through the age groups. Lewis McLeod is a first-team regular for Rangers, Tony Watt is scoring goals for Celtic, and Islam Feruz is another one to watch. Billy selected the group before going on to work with the senior squad. We have spoken in depth about the plans for this match, and it’s up to me to carry on Billy’s work for now."

Scotland squad:GoalkeepersJordan Archer (Tottenham Hotspur)*Christopher Kettings (Blackpool)DefendersKieran Duffie (Falkirk)Stuart Findlay (Celtic)Marcus Fraser (Celtic)Kevin McHattie (Hearts)Clark Robertson (Aberdeen)Lewis Toshney (Celtic)**MidfieldersStuart Armstrong (Dundee United)Fraser Fyvie (Wigan Athletic)Jason Holt (Heart of Midlothian)Kenneth McLean (St Mirren)Lewis MacLeod (Rangers)ForwardsIslam Feruz (Chelsea)Dylan McGeouch (Celtic)Callum Paterson (Hearts)David Smith (Hearts)***Anthony Watt (Celtic)* on loan to Wycombe Wanderers** on loan to Dundee*** on loan to Raith Rovers

Source: ScottishFitba

Source: FOOTYMAD