Eleven new faces in squad as fresh cycle begins for Scotland Under-21s

Scot Gemmill has named his Scotland Under-21 squad to face Northern Ireland, with 11 first time call-ups to the group.

The team travel to Belfast for the first of two friendlies on September 22, with the return match at the SMiSA Stadium in Paisley on September 25.

The games will give Gemmill the opportunity to put a new team together ahead of the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

Elliot Anderson, Leon King, Sam Long, Josh Mulligan and Connor Smith are the only players included from the squad that played Denmark in June, with a number of players moving up out of the age group.

Hellas Verona’s Josh Doig returns to the squad with Liverpool’s Ben Doak and Aston Villa’s Rory Wilson promoted from the Under-17 squad,

Gemmill said: “It’s a really exciting time and a big responsibility to work with largely a new group of players and give them that opportunity to maximise their potential.

“The time they are with us may be small but it’s a really important part of their development.

“We have to get that balance right between trying to help the players develop as much as they can and push towards the full squad but at the same time, we try to be as competitive as we can be and to be competitive we have to be organised.

“These games against Northern Ireland will be excellent preparation for the competitive matches next year, and particularly for the new players, it’s a chance to show them how we work and what’s expected of them tactically.

“With being a Scotland youth international, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that. It’s a big thing for these players coming to play for their country and the experience has to be good for them as well so we have to get everything right.”

Scotland Under-21 squad

Elliot Anderson Newcastle United
Kieron Bowie Northampton Town (on loan from Fulham)
Flynn Clarke Norwich City
Tommy Conway Bristol City
Matthew Craig Tottenham Hotspur
Michael Craig Reading
Lucas De Bolle Hamilton Academical (on loan from Newcastle United)
Adam Devine Rangers
Josh Doig Hellas Veronas
Ben Doak Liverpool
Jay Hogarth Alloa Athletic (on loan from Rangers)
Leon King Rangers
Sam Long Boston United (on loan from Lincoln City)
Connor McAvoy Fulham
Cole McKinnon Partick Thistle (on loan from Rangers)
Stuart McKinstry Motherwell
Chris Mochrie Dunfermline Athletic (on loan from Dundee United)
Adam Montgomery St Johnstone (on loan from Celtic)
Josh Mulligan Dundee
Lewis Neilson Heart of Midlothian
Cieran Slicker Rochdale (on loan from Manchester City)
Connor Smith Heart of Midlothian
Rory Wilson Aston Villa