ASH: RICE GUYS FINISH FIRST COISTY TOLD ME I NEEDED THICK SKIN
SAN MARINO v SCOTLAND
TODAY, 5.30PM, SAN MARINO STADIUM
SCOTLAND UNDER-21s starlet Harrison Ashby used to stay in digs with England star Declan Rice.
Now the highly promising West Ham full-back is desperate to follow his Hammers team-mate to the top.
The 18-year-old rightback has already made his debut for the Irons this season and was praised by boss and countryman David Moyes after playing in the Carabao Cup against Charlton and Hull.
Ashby is in San Marino with Scot Gemmill’s squad for tonight’s Euro qualifier in Group Four.
The young Scots can put themselves in a terrific position if they gain the expected win. If they win their two remaining games after that at home to Croatia and away to Greece, they will qualify for the Euros for the first time in 25 years.
And Ashby, whose father Ben made almost 300 appearances for Gillingham and qualifies for Scotland through his grandad, is offering serious competition to Ryan Fredericks – who turned down the chance to play for Scotland – at the London Stadium.
He signed a bumper new contract in the summer and was almost immediately thrown into first-team action by Moyes.
And the player he looks up to is midfielder Rice, who has become a key figure for England after switching allegiances from the Republic of Ireland last year and played in their 2-1 win against Belgium on Sunday.
Ashby said: “I work with Declan closely. I was in digs with him when I was 14, so to see him doing so well both in domestic and international football is really pleasing.
“That encourages me and lets me think I have got a chance.
“I saw him go from a centre-back who wasn’t really going anywhere to a big star in midfield for England and he has now made over 100 appearances for West Ham.
“So I look up to him and if I needed to motivate myself, I just need to look at how well it has gone for him. Certainly I look at him as a big example.”
Meanwhi le, gaf fer Gemmell has warned his depleted Scotland Under21s side not to treat San Marino lightly tonight – despite them shipping 10 goals in their last game.
He said: “Of course we know what happened to them in their last game and I would imagine they will want to have a reaction to that.
“We are going to have a lot of players missing. There were eight players out the other night against the Czechs and now Allan Campbell is suspended and, of course, Ross McCrorie has moved up to the full squad.”