The future looks bright for McCart, says Foran
RICHIE FORAN believes Jamie McCart’s elevation into the Scotland Under-21 squad is a marker of his emergence as one of the country’s brightest prospects.
The on-loan Celtic central defender has successfully made the leap from development league football to full Scottish Premiership action with Inverness Caley Thistle.
The 19-year-old, son of Celtic’s head of youth Chris McCart, stepped into the breach with the Highlanders amid a defensive injury crisis and helped shore up one of the leakiest defences in the league.
With McCart yet to taste defeat in five first team outings for Inverness – including four draws and a victory over Rangers – Foran sees involvement the Scotland set-up as a natural and deserved progression.
Ahead of last night’s Under-21 clash with Estonia, the Irishman said: “It’s great to see Jamie getting his first call-up. It’s a mark of the great promise and potential he is showing.
“He’s gone from playing youth football to being a regular starter here in the Scottish Premiership.
“That amounts to a big jump in the standard of football he’s been playing, but he has adapted superbly. Now he’s got his international call-up and it’s well deserved.
“I’m delighted for him. He’s a very modest kid who works very hard and always does that little bit extra after training.
“He’s been a great addition to the squad and we’re really pleased for him.”
Foran, meanwhile, confirmed that central defender Josh Meekings is unlikely to play again this season due to a knee injury.
Caley Thistle face losing the former Ipswich Town youth under freedom of contract in June.
But Foran stressed Meekings would be wrapped in cotton wool and given careful assistance in his recovery despite the very prospect of losing the 24-year-old this summer after six years at the club.