Gemmill urges young talent to grab chance

Scotland Under-21s head coach Scot Gemmill has urged his promoted players to seize their opportunity on the tour of the Americas.

Gemmill has seen the likes of Scott Mckenna, Oli Mcburnie, Lewis Morgan and Chris Cadden called up from his ranks to join the full squad since Alex Mcleish took over.

Nine players could make their debuts during games against Peru and Mexico after six withdrawals from Mcleish’s already under-strength pool. But Gemmill feels one man’s unavailability could be the launchpad for another’s long international career.

The former Scotland midfielder said: “If you trace it back there’s a lot of examples of these games at the end of the season where, for different reasons, the established players aren’t able to play and the next ones get an opportunity.

“I can remember back in the mid-’90s, players like Paul Lambert and Craig Burley going to Japan and making their debuts at the end of the season.

“If you did a bit of research they were probably there because established first-team players weren’t available.

“Historically you will see that these games do give an opportunity to young players to make that step into the full squad and then it’s down to them to take that chance.”

Motherwell midfielder Cadden and recent Celtic signing Morgan are sampling their first taste of full international football.

“It’s really exciting to see,” Gemmill said. “For every player, they did everything right and put themselves in a position where they wait to be selected and, once you get that opportunity then you have to really grab it and take the responsibility and show that you can be trusted to play.

“I use that word a lot, it’s down to trust.

“A manager has to be able to trust a player to play, especially when it comes to the qualification games.”

Scot Gemmill: Excited to see players advance.

Two of the players now in the full squad: Scott Mckenna, left, and Lewis Morgan.