Sixteen-year-old Kyle Glasgow has been included in Tony Docherty's first Scotland Under-21 squad. The forward is on loan at Alloa Athletic from Rangers and has three goals in 10 games for the Scottish League 1 side. Docherty, whose side face Azerbaijan and Bulgaria in the coming weeks, believes SPFL co-operation agreements, where Premiership clubs loan players to lower league sides, has worked well, with Glasgow an example of its use.
"He's holding his own but more importantly, he's learning the game," Docherty said. "Selection for squads is all based on performance and there's an example of a young player that's performing really well at that level and I think he needs rewarded for that." McBurnie & seven uncapped players in Scotland squad Gemmill leaves Scotland U21 role after 13 years Former Dundee manager Docherty has replaced Scot Gemmill and takes charge for the final two fixtures in European Championship qualifying. The young Scots must beat Azerbaijan at Rugby Park on 30 September and Bulgaria away on 6 October and hope Czech Republic drop points in order to usurp the Czechs into the play-off spot, with leaders Portugal on course for automatic qualification for next year's finals in Albania and Serbia.
The new head coach has named seven uncapped players in his first squad, including St Mirren duo Henry Fieldson and Louis Jackson and fellow defender Daniel Armer of Manchester United. United midfielder Tyler Fletcher, 19, is also included after making his full international debut prior to this year's World Cup and going to the finals as a replacement in the senior squad for the injured Billy Gilmour. "He's obviously made that mark and I want to make sure that all of them get that opportunity, that when they come to the 21s, they now realise that pathway's really close," Docherty explained.
"We need to work harder to make sure that there's more opportunities for under-21 players to get the benefit of playing first-team football. "Are they getting enough minutes? Are they performing well?
And, if they are, then they should come into a national squad. "There's now seven eligible [under-21 players] in the A squad, which I think's fantastic. This is a really strong squad I've got.
"There is a chance, a slim chance of qualification. You're all out to try win the two matches. It also impinges on pot three and pot four for your next campaign that you would be starting if you weren't successful in qualifying." Docherty and Scotland head coach, Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli, take on their new roles with the Scottish FA set-up at a time of intended transition for football north of the border, with SFA chief football officer Craig Mulholland leading attempts to increase minutes for young players at club level.
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