Scotland Under-21 midfielder David Wotherspoon is ready to embark upon another bid to qualify for the finals of the European Championships.
Billy Stark's youngsters failed to reach the 2011 finals in Denmark when they lost to Iceland in a two-legged play-off last month. However, the Hibernian player remains in a new-look squad which will begin the build-up to another qualification campaign with a friendly against Northern Ireland at Firhill on Wednesday night.
"I have been with the Under-21s for over a year. I'm 20 and I could have another two years left with the way things work. It was a great experience for all of us going that far in the last campaign and it was very unlucky that we didn't get through," said Wotherspoon.
"It's always good to play for your national team and I am looking forward to Wednesday. All the boys want to be the best of their age and playing for your national team shows you are in that class."
Wotherspoon was part of the Hibs side which shocked Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions Rangers with a 3-0 win at Ibrox last week.
However, he was the only change to Colin Calderwood's side for the visit of Motherwell on Saturday and had to watch as his replacement, Derek Riordan, scored both goals in the 2-1 win. Wotherspoon, though, admits he could hardly complain.
He said: "The gaffer pulled me aside at training on Friday and gave me reasons why he didn't want to play me. I totally understood what he was trying to say to me and I had to take it on the chin.
"The gaffer made the right decision in putting Derek Riordan back in because he showed his class and got the two goals and nearly scored a third with a tremendous volley. Obviously (when Riordan scored twice) I was thinking, 'here we go, I'm not going to get back in' but I will keep working hard and hopefully I will get back in.
"We have this game on Wednesday and hopefully I can get a game then. Getting that result against Rangers was tremendous, especially at Ibrox where they hadn't lost a game for ages.
"Our confidence had been quite low but that gave it a massive boost and getting another win against Motherwell has set us up so hopefully we can carry it on at the weekend against Inverness."
Source: PA
