Lawrence in squad for double-header
Luton’s on-loan Manchester City youngster Emilio Lawrence has been named in the Scotland U21s squad for their UEFA U21 Championship qualifiers against both Czechia and Portugal this week.
The 20-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road from the Etihad back in early January, as after starting the first four league and cup matches, then had a spell out of the side, until returning to the squad for the 1-1 draw with Burton Albion and then started the 1-1 draw at Port Vale last month. Lawrence was instrumental in Luton taking the lead against the Valiants, combining well with Joe Johnson to cross for Nahki Wells to open the scoring at Vale Park, while he was at it again during the 3-2 defeat at Reading too, his inviting left-footed delivery from the right flank turned in by Nigel Lonwijk to make it 1-1.
He also started the games with Doncaster Rovers and Wycombe on Saturday, with a fine outing at Adams Park, slicing one attempt wide in the second period, leading to Lawrence earning another call-up by Scotland U21s boss Scott Gemmill. The youngster has played for England at U15s and U16s level, before switching to Scotland due to his mother being from north of the border, featuring for the U16s, and then making his debut for the U21s in March 2025, going on to play five times between September and November last year, scoring four goals in the 12-0 win over Gibraltar.
Lawrence is now back in the squad of 23 named by Gemmill who host Czechia at Dens Park, Dundee on Friday, March 27, before travelling to group leaders Portugal at the Estådio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril on Monday, March 31. Discussing Lawrence’s efforts since his move to Bedfordshire, then boss Jack Wilshere said recently: “He’s done well, he’s done really well.
"When he first came in, we wanted to put him straight in so he could experience it. I always feel like for a player to understand the level and adapt to it quickly is to throw them in, get them to feel it, to live it, as he probably had so many people saying to him that League One is totally different to U21s football, but you have to experience it to go through it.
"Then we took him out, we worked with him on the training pitch tried to get him to understand a few things and always with the understanding that he’s going to go back in as he has a lot of quality that can help the team and that’s why we brought him here. He just needed to adapt, he’s adapted, he still needs to adapt and I feel like there’s more to come from him, but really happy with how he’s done.”
Squad – Goalkeepers: Woody Williamson (Ipswich Town); Liam McFarlane (Heart of Midlothian, on loan to Alloa Athletic); Ruairidh Adams (Dundee United, on loan to East Fife). Defenders: Dylan Lobban (Aberdeen); Mitchel Frame (Aberdeen); Colby Donovan (Celtic); Luke Graham (Dundee); Sam Cleall-Harding (Dundee United); Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (Dunfermline Athletic); Connor Allan (Falkirk); Matthew Anderson (KV Kortrijk).
Emilio Lawrence has been called up by Scotland U21s once more - pic: David Horn / PRiME Media Imagesplaceholder image
Emilio Lawrence has been called up by Scotland U21s once more - pic: David Horn / PRiME Media Images
Midfielders: Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers); Kyle Ure (Celtic, on loan to Ayr United); David Watson (Kilmarnock); Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United); Cameron Bragg (Southampton). Forwards: Ryan One (Sheffield United, on loan to Lincoln City); Andrew Tod (Dunfermline Athletic);Barney Stewart (Falkirk); James Wilson (Heart of Midlothian, on loan to Tottenham Hotspur); Robbie Ure (IK Sirius); Dire Mebude (Çaykur Rizespor); Emilio Lawrence (Manchester City, on loan to Luton Town).
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