Billy Gilmour celebrates a goal during the Toulon Tournament, where he was named breakthrough player, while left, SFA performance director Malky Mackay keeps a close eye on the youngsters, along with Scotland Under-21 manager Scot Gemmill

player wise in the modern generation. We will keep fast-tracking them if we feel they are ready to step up a level, while bearing in mind that we have to be careful with physicality.

“I am, in collaboration with the clubs, going to keep pushing them when we think that they are ready to go up.”

Alex McLeish has certainly not been shy about promoting the best emerging talents to the senior Scotland side since being appointed manager for a second time back in February – the likes of Jack Hendry, Oli McBurnie, Scott McKenna, Lewis Morgan and John Souttar have all got game time on his watch.

The wisdom of doing that is being questioned by disgruntled supporters in the wake of the poor showing and disappointing defeat against Israel in a Nations League match in Haifa on Thursday evening.

Mackay, who himself went with an inexperienced team when he took charge for the friendly against the Netherlands at Pittodrie last year, is hopeful that supporters remain patient during this transitional period and that McLeish perseveres with his youth policy. He is sure that, in time, they are good enough to come of age at international level.

“Alex has been very open,” the 46-year-old former Celtic defender said. “Any time he is in, and he is in a lot, we have a cup of tea and talk. He will ask me about young players.

“We have got a lot coming through who are technically better and more athletic. If we can keep this group together we will start to beat midranking European countries on a regular basis.

“That is the obstacle we have got to get over. That is the important thing here. The top teams are the top teams and that will always be the case. We saw that against Belgium.

“But then you saw us beating Hungary and Albania. Let’s get back to judging ourselves against midranking European teams. If we have younger players who are technically better than they were and athletic then we have a chance.

“We have got to try to get to the Euros. That brings money back into the country. As well as the kudos and enjoyment of going to the finals, there is prize money that comes in and that gets distributed to clubs. It filters back down.

“Money comes in here and goes out to the clubs and the coaches and the players and helps to improve standards. It takes a while, but it is a self-perpetuating cycle. It is about all of us.”