Gemmill: Doig and Barron senior Scotland call-ups ‘a positive’

Scot Gemmill views the promotion of Josh Doig and Connor Barron to the full Scotland squad this week in a positive light even though it has left his Under-21s without eight key players for their crucial Euro 2025 qualification double-header against Spain and Malta.

Sassuolo left-back Doig and Rangers midfielder Barron, both 22, were added to Steve Clarke’s group after a batch of late withdrawals.

Under-21 mainstays Max Johnston, Ben Doak and Tommy Conway were already unavailable to Gemmill after being named in the full squad last week, while Ibane Bowat, Lewis Fiorini and Liam Morrison are all absent through injury.

Gemmill was in no mood to feel sorry for himself despite having his squad further depleted at a time when they are second in their group and in contention to qualify for a tournament for the first time since 1996.

“It’s definitely positive,” the head coach said of Barron and Doig’s call-ups. “That’s why this team exists, to develop young players. It’s brilliant for the players and I view it that it shows the players have been doing well, not only for us but at their clubs as well. I definitely see it as a positive.

“We’re all football people and we know how it works. Young players get their opportunity whether it’s through a first-team player being injured, suspended or ill, and then it’s up to them to take the opportunity.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for them to be involved, and now they have to go and confirm their talent. We think they’ve got great potential and now they have to go and take their opportunity if they get it.

“Of course, we lose a bit of control in terms of the timing (of the call-ups) but it creates opportunities for others to step up. That’s how the system works. I think just over half of our current squad are young enough to play in the next under-21 competition so it allows us to give an opportunity to those (younger) players.”

Motherwell defender Ewan Wilson, 19, has been added to the squad ahead of Friday’s Tynecastle showdown with Spain, whom the Scots ran close in Jaen a year ago before losing 1-0.

“Spain are the top seed in our section and I would say they’re probably the top team in the whole competition,” Gemmill said. “They will have aspirations to win the tournament but it’s a brilliant opportunity for our players.

“We showed in Spain last year that if we get the performance correct then we can play against anyone. They’ve made a lot of changes to the squad they had then, and we have too.

“It’s really exciting and it’s brilliant for the players to come up against that level of opposition – it’s what they need to help them keep improving.”