Stark backs May to be Mr Motivated
BILLY STARK is sure that neither Stuart Armstrong nor Stevie May will bring their disappointment at missing out on a senior squad call-up to the Scotland Under-21 camp this week.
May had been talked up as a possible pick for the Nigeria friendly at Craven Cottage a week on Wednesday after his 27-goal season.
However, after consultation with Gordon Strachan, Stark named the St Johnstone striker in his pool for the European Championship qualifier against Holland in Paisley on the same evening.
Dundee United midfielder Armstrong, twice recruited to Strachan’s ranks without making a debut, also saw the door closed at senior level for the time being and is set to earn a 20th Under-21 cap against the Dutch.
Scotland need to win the Group Three match to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Czech Republic — and Stark is confident that he can rely on two star men who won’t suffer any mental letdown on their return to the qualifying campaign.
‘It’s hard to know what individuals are thinking but obviously there is speculation about who might be in the senior squad, so they would probably be lying if it didn’t cross their mind,’ said Stark.
‘I’m sure they would have loved to have been with the big squad. But I think Stuart is a very level-headed boy and I don’t see it being a problem at all, Stevie May equally.
‘I think you can tell by the way they play that there are no real egos there.
‘I’m hoping there is a wee bit of them that is saying: “We’ve still got a chance of qualifying”. It’s a big game, they want to contribute.
‘They’ve already played a big part in the campaign — Stuart, particularly — and Stevie got a crucial goal for us against Slovakia. He plays like a lad with something to prove.
‘Hopefully he has got a goal or two left in him in a Scotland jersey for the end of the season.’