Billy Stark

By FOS Editor
November 8 2010

The Under 21 Scotland side take on Northern Ireland as Billy Stark looks to the future.

After going out of the Under 21 European Championships to Iceland last month Scotland look to the future with their first game with the next group of youngsters when they take on Northern Ireland in a friendly at Firhill next Wednesday.

Looking forward to the game Under-21 National Coach Billy Stark said: "The likes of Paul Hanlon, Ross Perry and David Wotherspoon have been involved in previous under-21 squads so there is a bit of continuity there. The obvious players missing though are James Forrest and Peter Pawlett who are both injured at the moment but they could be important players for us.

"Jordan Rhodes scored 23 goals in 50 games last season in League One for Huddersfield Town and he has scored five in ten this year which is an exceptional goal-scoring record for a young player. He is the son of the former goalkeeper Andy Rhodes who played for the likes of Dunfermline Athletic and St. Johnstone and he has completed five years of schooling in Scotland so is eligible to be selected for us and is keen to play.

"Another player coming in is Nicholas Ross. He has started 10 matches for Inverness Caledonian Thistle this season already and is establishing himself as a first team player. He deserves a chance.

"The backbone of the squad is fixed in my mind but there will always be room for other players to come into the squad.  I have worked with most of these players at under-19s level so many of them have played together already. A number of these players are playing regular first team football at their clubs which reflects well for us as we should have a more experienced squad to kick off with.

"This match is a good starting point for us. It will be a tough match as Northern Ireland have some good young players but the result is not important in friendly matches like these. I’m looking for a good performance."

Goalkeepers
Michael Andrews (Falkirk on loan to East Stirlingshire)
Jamie Barclay (Falkirk)
Mark Ridgers (Hearts on loan to Airdrie United)

Defenders
Callum Booth (Hibernian on loan to Brechin City)
Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers)
Paul Hanlon (Hibernian)
Ross Perry (Rangers)
Steven Saunders (Motherwell)
Craig Thomson (Heart of Midlothian)

Midfielders
Tom Cairney (Hull City)
John Fleck (Rangers)
Kyle Hutton (Rangers)
Bradden Inman (Newcastle United)
Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday)
Nicholas Ross (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
David Wotherspoon (Hibernian)
Gregg Wylde (Rangers)

Forwards
Leigh Griffiths (Dundee)
Alex MacDonald (Burnley)
Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town)
Johnathon Russell (Dundee United)