Kieron Bowie calls on Scotland Under-21s to be fully focused in Malta

Kieron Bowie has called on Scotland Under-21s to be fully focused as they look to get their Euro 2025 qualification bid back on track in Malta.

The Scots appear to be in a battle with Belgium and Hungary for second place in Group B after their 2-1 defeat at home to Spain left them six points adrift of the group leaders.

The three best runners-up qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Slovakia, with the others going into a play-off.

Hibernian forward Bowie knows the importance of making sure that, with just three games to play, they get maximum points against a Malta side who ran them close at Fir Park last October.

“We played Malta in October last year and we won 2-1 and it was sort of the last 10 minutes we scored,” said Bowie. “So we know they’re not just going to roll over and let us batter them.

“But the last time we had quite a lot of chances and the game should have been put to bed a lot earlier, so hopefully we can go into this game with a different mindset and come away with the three points.”

Scotland are currently second in the group and Bowie feels the Under-21s have a chance of making it to a tournament for the first time since 1996.

“We’re in a good position,” he said. “I think all the lads in the dressing room definitely know we have a chance of qualifying. We just need to win these next three games to hopefully qualify.”

Rangers defender Leon King, who has sustained a knock, is the only absentee from the squad that was available for the Spain game on Friday.