Gemmill: Hoops’ Ewan would be with older lads right now but he’s cut out for elite round status
SCOT GEMMILL revealed Ewan Henderson would have been handed a first Scotland Under-21 cap call – if the younger crop didn’t need him more.
The Under-21s boss has been dazzled if not surprised by his “immense” progress after breaking into Celtic’s first team.
Gemmill took his squad out to Spain yesterday for a week- long training camp that will also feature friendlies against Mexico and Sweden.
But the midfielder was not on the flight, with Billy Stark’s Under-19s off to Portugal for the Euros elite round ahead of July’s finals in Armenia.
Games against Turkey, Cyprus and Portugal in the space of seven days will determine whether they become only the second Scotland Under-19s to qualify.
Incidentally, Gemmill’s father Archie led the first to the 2006 Final where they lost to a Spain side boasting the likes of Gerard Pique and Juan Mata.
The Under-21s boss said: “Ewan would most certainly have been in the squad if he wasn’t on Under-19 duty. It is not too soon for Ewan as he is obviously doing great.
“He is another player who I have worked with at Under-17 level and he has pushed on immensely since then.
“Moving forward Ewan is another player who will unquestionably be involved with the national youth-team squads.
“He is another player whom
we can help push as hard as possible.” The 18-year-old has five first-team appearances this season, starting two of Neil Lennon’s four games in charge and coming off the bench in one.
Gemmill said: “I have not been surprised at all at how Ewan has performed at Celtic.
“My own opinion – and I am not alone in this – is it is easier to play with good players. The kind of footballer Ewan is will really help him develop and play.
“He is a really good footballer with a footballing brain and playing with better players will push Ewan’s own levels.
“Some players can adapt to that quickly. Depending on your own key skills and how you can influence games then Ewan is one who can undoubtedly cope with playing at a faster speed with better players because he is a very intelligent player.
“I also coached Ewan’s brother Liam in the Scotland youth set-ups. When I worked with Ewan it was at Under-17 level and he was still very young and not really contributing physically to the game. But I felt it was just a matter of time before he did. Celtic have worked very hard with him in that regard.
“It will be interesting to see now how Ewan continues his development. He has forced his way into the Celtic team and that is not an easy thing to do.
“That tells you everything you need to know about him.”