I’ve Scot no gripes if seniors nick my kids
SCOT GEMMILL has the Scotland Under-21s well on track for a Euro 2019 play-off bid.
But he still wouldn’t have stood in Malky Mackay’s way had he tried to derail it by nicking boys for the senior squad.
The interim Scotland gaffer spoke to Gemmill about potentially including a few starlets in his pool to face Holland in a friendly on November 9.
Defenders John Souttar, Scott McKenna and Ross McCrorie would have all been under consideration.
Gemmill is delighted Mackay opted against it but also accepts that developing players for the Scotland top team is more important.
As he named his squad for a vital double-header against Latvia and Ukraine in Perth, Gemmill said: “If Malky had decided to take any of my players I wouldn’t have been able to stop him. But I wouldn’t have opened my mouth because I’d have been delighted the players were getting the chance to play for Scotland.
“Would I rather qualify or see half of these boys go on to play for Scotland? Why can’t we have both?
“It’s all about the full squad, there’s no question about that. Hopefully we can get a balance.”
For the first time in years, Gemmill can pick an U-21 side from players who are featuring regularly for their clubs.
Having already beaten Holland and Latvia he’s encouraged by the continuity of selection.
He said: “It’s a boost for us that Malky didn’t call them up but the players might disagree because they want to be in the full squad! The fact Malky considered them is testament to the players’ performances.
“It should motivate them to keep pushing.”
Gemmill may have to do without skipper Oliver Burke who is injured at West Brom.
He hasn’t completely ruled out his talisman recovering in time to play some part next week but in the meantime has included fit-again St Mirren kid Kyle Magennis.
Squad – R Doohan (Morton), R Fulton (Hamilton), Robby McCrorie (Berwick), J Ruddy (Oldham), J Kerr (QoS), Ross McCrorie (Rangers), S McKenna (Aberdeen), C Miller (Celtic), L Smith (St Mirren), J Souttar (Hearts), G Taylor (Kilmarnock), R Williamson (Dunfermline), T Archibald (Brentford), C Cadden, A Campbell (both Motherwell), Greg Docherty (Hamilton), K Magennis (St Mirren), S Mallan (Barnsley), L Morgan (St Mirren), D Thomas (Kilmarnock), O McBurnie (Swansea), R Hardie (Rangers), S Wright (Aberdeen).