Billy Gilmour can give us the Euros X-factor
It is a source of no little pleasure for Billy Stark that he can proudly claim to be the only Scotland manager with a 100% win record.
No wonder.
With greats such as Jock Stein, Sir Alex Ferguson and Walter Smith all under half that figure over their stints in charge, it is quite a boast to be able to make – if only in jest.
As the 64-year-old admits himself, it is the fact he was only in a charge for a single game that makes all the difference.
Scotland’s current Under-19s coach led the country to a 2-1 friendly win in Luxembourg back in November, 2012.
His cameo turn, sandwiched between the Craig Levein and Gordon Strachan eras, is probably best remembered for the Jordan Rhodes hat-trick that never was.
The striker scored three, but had one erroneously chopped off for offside which at the time cost him the chance to be the first Scotland player to achieve the feat since Colin Stein in 1969.
Less well-known – but more relevant as Steve Clarke ponders his selection for Tuesday’s announcement of the squad for this
Josh reads the game well, is committed in the tackle and aggressive in the air, where his height is in his favour
month’s World Cup qualifiers – is the fact he also used the match to give a debut to one Leigh Griffiths.
While the Hoops striker remains arguably the country’s best finisher, his inclusion in the group to face Austria, Israel and the Faroe Islands later this month is by no means certain as he has not been starting for Celtic, and doubts remain about his fitness.
Instead, the national coach could look to the future and use the space in his group to get an exciting young talent such as 19-year-old Billy Gilmour, Josh Doig, just 18, or David Turnbull, a comparative veteran at 21, involved.
“I haven’t worked with David, so I can’t say much other than he is in great form at club level with Celtic. But I know the other two boys well, and they are terrific types,” said Stark.
“Josh has exploded on to the scene here, and made a big impact at Hibs this season.
“The way he flies down the left wing has impressed everybody.
“He can get his team up the pitch, has a good final ball and showed what he is capable of when opening his account with a fine goal the other week.
“But – and I can testify to this having had him in my sides – he is also a proper defender.
“He reads the game well, is committed in the tackle, and aggressive in the air, where the fact he is a tall, upright lad is in his favour.
“We played him at left centreback, as well as left-back, and he was excellent there. So much so, in fact, I could see him going on to be a
regular there one day. He also has the perfect attitude for a young player.
“He is humble and just wants to work hard and improve his game.
“Nathan Patterson at Rangers is another one I know well, and really like. But in his case, I am not sure he will get enough first-team opportunities over the coming weeks to press his claim.”
Stark is most excited about Gilmour’s prospects.
“If there was one player you could see Steve taking into the group to get him involved, it would be Billy because he has got everything,” he said.
“You look at the senior side, at what a brilliant achievement it was to qualify for the Euros, and it would be fair to say we are pretty well served in all areas of the pitch. “Our midfield options, in particular, have been particularly strong for a lot of years now.
“But Billy offers us that special X Factor that only comes along every so often.
“He is a kid who has gone into games at the very, very top level – the likes of Liverpool v Chelsea –and been the Man of the Match.
“What he has done in those matches has had the pundits on Match Of The Day raving about his ability.
“His poise, his vision, his composure on the ball, the ability to see a pass that others can’t, are all off the scale.
“In terms of Scotland, too, he has done the hard work. He has played his way right up through the levels.
“He took part in the Victory Shield and, of course, was a stand-out for us in the Toulon tournament three years ago (where he was voted Revelation of the Tournament).
“All our coaches have known about his potential, and been excited to see what he will become.
“Frank Lampard was a big fan of Billy, so it is a shame that he has moved on.
“I know Thomas Tuchel likes him, too, but doesn’t seem ready to give him the same game time.
“He will be just fine, though, because whether it takes a loan move or not, his ability will keep pushing him forward.”
Which was exactly what happened with Griffiths back in 2012.
“Leigh was with Hibs back then, on loan from Wolves,” Stark recalled.
“He was still only 21, but by then I had known him for years because he had been with us at Under-21 level, and had played for Livingston from a young age.
“The thing that always stood out about him was how good a finisher he was. When he got a chance in the box, he was just lethal.
“I remember him playing for us in an Under-21 match where he cut in from the left, and unleashed this great shot on the angle that went flying into the net.
“The quality of his technique was of a different level.
“So when I got the chance to get him involved with Scotland, I was always going to take it.
“Funnily enough, he had to wait his time a little because I started another debutant, Andrew Shinnie, who was going great guns with Inverness at the time, and then switched him for Leigh during the second-half.
“With respect to Andrew, it is Leigh who has really kicked on with Scotland, and there have been a few times over the years when I have had occasion to think: ‘Oh, I gave him his debut way back’.
“He is older now, of course, but that finishing ability has never left him.”
As Stark concedes, the situations are a little different between then and now, with Clarke eyeing what would be a remarkable second successive qualification for a major tournament.
“The Luxembourg game was a friendly, and it was at the stage of the season where clubs were not overly enthusiastic to have their players travel,” he recalled.
“So that was an encouragement to try new players and new things out.
“These games are a forerunner for our appearance in the Euro Finals in the summer, but they are also another opportunity to achieve something special.
“I am sure Steve will have his own thoughts as to exactly how he wants to handle things. “Whatever way he goes, it will be brilliant to see the boys back in action again, and a great reminder of the excitement to come later in the year.”