Scotland Under-21 boss includes new faces in squad
Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill has included two new faces in his 23-man squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers later this month.
Currently in third place in Group B, the young Scots continue their qualification campaign with a home clash against Czechia at Dens Park on Friday, March 27, before they jet off to Estoril to face group leaders Portugal at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota the following Tuesday.
Level on 10 points with second-place Czechia, and three points behind Portugal in the standings, Gemmill has included the son of former national team captain Darren Fletcher, Tyler, in his squad for the first time. Born in England, the 18-year-old midfielder opted to represent Scotland and has been capped at various youth levels.
Aberdeen full-back Mitchel Frame has been included in the Scotland Under-21 squad for the first time.placeholder image
Aberdeen full-back Mitchel Frame has been included in the Scotland Under-21 squad for the first time. | SNS Group
Making his senior debut for Manchester United as a late substitute against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season, Fletcher has been included in the Red Devils’ squad for their last two league games against Aston Villa and Newcastle United. He has now been rewarded with a maiden call-up to the Scotland Under-21 setup this month.
Alongside him, Aberdeen full-back Mitchel Frame has been added to the squad for the first time. The former Celtic academy player moved to Pittodrie in the summer and has become a regular in the Dons' side in recent months. He joins club teammate Dylan Lobban in the group.
Furthermore, the inclusion of in-form IK Sirius striker Robbie Ure indicates that Scotland may have won the battle for his international allegiance. The ex-Rangers youngster had been in excellent form in the Swedish top flight last year, scoring 11 goals and assisting a further four, following his move from Anderlecht. However, his form had alerted Ukraine, with the 22-year-old had been approached by Serhiy Rebrov’s side about switching his international allegiance.
Reports had claimed that Ure was in the process of obtaining Ukrainian citizenship, with the Glasgow-born forward eligible to represent the country via his grandfather. While he was tipped for a potential call-up for their World Cup playoff against Sweden on March 26, he was not included in Rebrov’s recent squad.
“I know they're [Ukraine] interested in me,” admitted Ure last month. “Now I just have to wait and see what happens. I was scouted in Ukraine, and I'm not stressed. I'm young, and I'll be calm, see what happens. Last time they tried to get me a passport. But I don't know any more than you do.”
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Scotland Under-21 squad in full
Goalkeepers: Woody Williamson (Ipswich Town), Liam McFarlane (Alloa Athletic*), Ruairidh Adams (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).
Midfielders: Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers), Kyle Ure (Ayr United*), David Watson (Kilmarnock), Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United), Cameron Bragg (Southampton).
Forwards: Ryan One Sheffield United (Lincoln City*), Andrew Tod (Dunfermline Athletic), Barney Stewart (Falkirk), James Wilson (Tottenham Hotspur*), Robbie Ure (IK Sirius), Dire Mebude (Caykur Rizespor), Emilio Lawrence (Luton Town*).