New U21s boss urges youngsters to follow in Burke’s footsteps

New Scotland Under-21 boss Scot Gemmill has urged his young hopefuls to copy young Fifer Oliver Burke’s example if they want to fulfil their international ambitions.

The former Nottingham Forrest and Everton midfielder has named his first squads since replacing Ricky Sbragia as the Scots’ youth team chief.

He has handed 10 youngsters their first call-ups to the 21s but Gemmill wants his players to dream big.

And he reckons £13 million teen sensation Burke, who hails from Kirkcaldy, is the perfect role model for his aspiring recruits.

The 19-year-old has made a swift progress since breaking out of Nottingham Forest’s academy two years ago.

The pacey wideman’s City Ground displays persuaded big-spending German outfit RB Leipzig to make him their latest purchase, while full national team boss Gordon Strachan has been so impressed by the youngster he gave him the job of spearheading Scotland’s attack as they kicked-off their World Cup qualifying campaign against Malta earlier this month.

Burke underlined his potential when he crowned his first Leipzig start on Sunday with a debut Bundesliga goal in a 1-1 draw with Cologne, but Gemmill hopes he is just the first player to emerge from the Hampden production line.

“Oliver is a real, obvious example of how quickly it can escalate for a young player,” said Gemmill, who won 26 caps as a player.

“It should motivate the lads by showing that if you’re doing well at the younger levels then the manager is prepared to play you in the full squad.

“I was lucky to work with Oliver with the Under-19s.

“I was actually one of the first people to be sent to watch him when we found out he was eligible to play for Scotland. His talent was obvious and he was full of potential.

“He seems to have made a good start to his time in Germany. He has everything you need to become a top player – that’s what makes his potential so outstanding.

“Not only is he physically very impressive, as is his pace, but he is a very grounded individual with a very good attitude.

“You can be as fast as you want but if you haven’t got the intelligence or the ambition to get with it you’re not going to get very far.

“But Oliver is willing to listen and wants to get better. That’s an important message for the other young players.”

Gemmill has taken up the reins of the 21s after Sbragia’s tenure ended with another failed qualification bid.

Next month’s European Championships qualifiers with Iceland and Macedonia are already meaningless affairs with the Scots second bottom of their six-team group and out of the race to reach next year’s finals in Poland.

Former Dundee United midfielder Ryan Gauld was left out of the squad, along with Celtic’s Ryan Christie and Jason Cummings of Hibs.