Time to fast track future Scots stars

Scot Gemmill wants to get radical with Scotland’s Under-21s to break down the brick wall kids hit when they reach the last stage of their development.

The coach has enjoyed success with the Under-17s and Under-19s.

But one after another, Under-21 bosses have struggled as players fail to live up to their early promise because of a lack of first-team football.

And Gemmill, who rightly sees his role as developing players under SFA performance director Malky Mackay rather than obsessing over results, said: “What’s the target at that point?

“It’s something I’m conscious of and a conversation I’ve had with Malky about how we should use the Under-21 team going forward. There’s a real justification for playing some of the younger players at that level.

“If we think they’re the players we can see becoming full internationals we should be brave enough to make an investment in them as early as possible.

“There’s a valid argument that we have to do something more radical.

“There will be times when public opinion will wonder why so-and-so isn’t playing for the 21s because he’s playing for team X at first-team level.

“But for us to do our job properly there has to be a bigger picture with a greater reasoning.” Gemmill also