HORNBY ON RIGHT TRACK
Youngster believes playing alongside some of the world’s best in Belgium will improve his game
MOST Scots surely require no lessons on Belgium’s footballing excellence. It is a point that has been forcefully pressed home by a trio of bludgeoning defeats for the national side during the past 13 months.
The first team to qualify for Euro 2020, and currently ranked No1 in the world by FIFA, the talent pool at the disposal of Roberto Martinez is the envy of many more populous countries.
Belgium’s domestic league may not attract the same level of adoration, yet it started this season eighth in the UEFA rankings — a dozen places above Scotland. They have clubs in both the Champions League and Europa League. Five of the squad picked ahead of Thursday night’s 9-0 obliteration of San Marino still play their football on home soil.
One rising Scottish prospect is now hoping experience of that environment can aid his own development. And help fulfil the ultimate aim of graduating into Steve Clarke’s senior set-up.
In August, Everton youngster Fraser Hornby turned down interest from within the UK to make a loan move to KV Kortrijk in the Belgian top flight. Three goals in his first six appearances suggest he is settling in nicely.
The 20-year-old has been a regular scorer at youth levels for Scotland, albeit one left frustrated by drawing a blank for the Under-21s against Lithuania this week. Clarke will be closely watching his development given the current lack of depth up front in the senior squad.
Hornby hopes he can catch the eye in both his international and club commitments. The decision to head to Belgium, stepping out of his comfort zone, is one he feels can pay long-term dividends.
‘There were clubs in England that I could have gone to, but I thought the top league in Belgium has a lot of good teams — teams who play in the Champions League and the Europa League,’ explained Hornby. ‘When I went over, I spoke to the manager (former Belgium midfielder Yves Vanderhaeghe) and it was clear it would be a good decision.
‘I also spoke to Yannick Bolasie when he was at Everton because he went to Anderlecht last season on loan. I was talking to him about the standard of the league and he said it was very good. He told me if I got regular game time, then my game would definitely improve.
‘There’s been a lot of interest in me going to Belgium and people have questioned me. But I’ve always wanted to play abroad and taste football culture somewhere else. For me, it was a really interesting move.
‘This is, hopefully, a really good stepping stone to make a name for myself in the professional game.’
Hornby struck twice in his most recent outing as Kortrijk recorded a thumping 4-0 victory over Sint-Truiden.
‘Going to Belgium and playing regular first-team football has helped me,’ he admitted. ‘It’s just like picking up little tricks from the senior players.
‘Also, playing abroad helps me coming into international games because I’m playing against European-style teams in Belgium.
‘The last game for Kortrijk was great for me. We had been playing well, but not getting the results, so this win came at a good time. Hopefully, I can score a lot of goals this season.’
Hornby was namechecked alongside Chelsea playmaker Billy Gilmour and Celtic winger Mikey Johnston when Clarke recently explained why he felt it was better to let some of the nation’s most promising youngsters continue with the Under-21s, rather than being fast-tracked into the senior squad.
‘There were others who were mentioned, too, but it says a lot about the standard of our Under-21 team,’ said Hornby.
‘We’ve had some big results. Against Lithuania, the way they set up shows that teams are coming with respect for us because they know we are a good team.
‘You saw quite a few of our players in our last squad who made the step up to the full squad. It just gives you the thought that we are not too far away.
‘If we keep performing and doing well for the 21s, it becomes a difficult decision for the senior manager to put us aside. We’ve just got to keep performing well.’
The stalemate against Lithuania prevented Scot Gemmill’s side from going clear at the top of their European Championship qualifying group. Sitting second behind Greece on goal difference, they now face a trip to the Czech Republic on Monday.
‘We are disappointed we didn’t come away with the three points against Lithuania,’ said Hornby.
‘We have to take it on the chin because we have a big game with the Czechs coming up and we know that will be really tough.’