Scotland under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill reckons that the emergence of Celtic kids Tony Ralston and Calvin Miller shows that this country has a wealth of talent bubbling under the surface, and it is up to individual players to show the work-rate and desire to make the breakthrough.
Gemmill has named both youngsters, along with teammate Mikey Johnston, in his squad for the first time for their opening European Championships qualifier against The Netherlands a week on Tuesday.
He has put their rapid rise down to their own determination to make the grade at Celtic, and he hopes their example can act as an inspiration to other young hopefuls throughout the country.
“It’s credit to them that their manager is trusting them to play in a team that has been so successful,” said Gemmill.
“But, at the same time, it shows that everybody who asks ‘Where are they? Where are these young players coming through?’ It shows that they are there.
“They’ve only played a couple of games. But you don’t get to play for that team unless the manager trusts you to play.
“The fact that Brendan Rodgers has trusted them to play at that level, in that team, you’ve got to give credit to the players.
“It’s a real motivation for all the players, not just at Celtic but throughout Scotland.
“The players are not stupid, they understand that they need to continue to push. I do think the players, for being so young, have a really professional attitude.
“Those little things we’re trying to implement with all the national youth teams, the culture of coming to play with speed, quality and professionalism.
“The players get that. They know there is no hiding place and, if they don’t show it, they won’t be invited back.”
Gemmill knows that his men will have to be firing on all cylinders to take anything from an exceptionally tough opening fixture, and much of the nation’s hopes will be placed on the shoulders of RB Leipzig’s Oliver Burke.
And certainly, says Gemmill, his captain will not require any added motivation when he joins up with the squad, with an exit from his club looking likely due to his limited first-team opportunities.
“Oliver is obviously, hopefully, going to be coming with a real point to prove,” he said. “Not just with what has happened with the national team but his club, as well.
“He’s said himself that he’s determined not to sulk, he’s determined to improve himself.
“Oliver was incredible in the summer, in terms of his application. In a way, we shouldn’t have expected anything else, knowing him as we do.
“I went to see him during pre-season in Austria recently and he spoke really well. We weren’t sure at that time if Gordon Strachan was going to take him for the full squad. The fact that he hasn’t, we benefit from that.
“Now we really need to use the weapons he’s got, his power and his pace.”
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