Go west, young man – or east, north and south
Scot Gemmill has praised the maturity of his squad after three of them opted to play their football abroad this season.
Scotland’s Under-21s produced a terrific result in midweek, winning in Croatia against the Euro 2021 top seeds Croatia, thanks to a late double from Aberdeen’s Connor McLennan.
It meant the young Scots have now won two out of two in their group as they aim to qualify for a Finals for the first time since 1996.
But what’s striking and particularly unusual about this young Scotland squad is that three of them now ply their trade abroad.
Central defender George Johnston moved from Liverpool to Feyenoord in the summer, Everton striker Fraser Hornby has gone on loan to Belgium with KV Kortrijk, and Reading midfielder Jordan Holsgrove is now in Spain with Atletico Baleares.
All three played significant roles in the 21s’ win against a nation whose senior team reached the World Cup Final, with Gemmill’s youngsters handing Scottish football a much-needed boost after a truly atrocious week for Steve Clarke’s side.
And Gemmill has stressed it shows young players now are not just satisfied with staying at home, and want to try a different style of football.
He said: “That’s something that I admire with the young players of today. They have the ambition and maturity to do that.
“I remember having a conversation about maybe signing for Espanyol when I was a player, but don’t think I could have done it even in the mid-’90s.
“It’s a different situation now for the young players. Football is global. Our domestic teams sign players from everywhere. The landscape has changed.
“If you look at our clubs even in the ’90s, would they have signed players from where they do now?
“It’s just about having intelligent players. There are a lot of players who just play, and I think it has to be more than that at the top level.
“Every part of the game is so specific now. For example, the goal-kick has almost turned into a set piece.
“Twenty years ago, a goal-kick was a goal-kick, and the ball would be shelled into the middle of the pitch where 20 players would be waiting for it!
“The game’s changed, and our youngsters are benefitting from that.”