Scotland Under-21 squad named for Euro 2025 qualifiers with Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Hearts represented

The long-serving head coach has had to make do without regulars Tommy Conway, Ben Doak and Max Johnston after the trio were called into Steve Clarke's senior squad for next month’s Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal.

Rangers midfielder Connor Barron is included after narrowly missing out on a call-up to Clarke's squad while Kieron Bowie is also selected following his £600,000 move to Hibs from Fulham. There are also three first-time call-ups in the shape of Kilmarnock’s 19-year-old forward Bobby Wales, 18-year-old midfielder Daniel Kelly who has just moved from Celtic to Millwall and Dundee United’s versatile 20-year-old Miller Thomson.

Gemmill explained: “Obviously, Steve’s promoted a couple of the players to the full squad and there’s a knock-on effect. So it’s a great opportunity for the younger players to come into the squad.

“I think I’m right in saying there’s now 10 of the current under-21 squad that are young enough to play again, which is something that we are conscious of. You try to manage the timing of when you would include those young players. And then sometimes an opportunity comes along that you have to take and this is one of them, where there’s space in the squad to give the younger players some exposure to under-21 level.”

Scotland have put themselves in a good position to qualify for next year's UEFA Under-21 finals in Slovakia after collecting 13 points from their opening six matches in Group B. That has placed them second in the standings, three points behind leaders Spain and ahead of third-placed Belgium on goal difference with four matches remaining.

The nine qualification group winners along with the three best-placed group runners-ups will qualify automatically, with the remaining six group runners-up entering into play-offs for the final three places.

The two upcoming qualifiers will go a long way towards determining Scotland’s fortunes in the campaign with a home match against Spain at Tynecastle on September 6 followed by a trip to Malta on September 10.

Scotland Under-21s Squad: Matthew Anderson (Celtic), Robert Apter (Blackpool), Connor Barron (Rangers), Kieron Bowie (Hibs), Lewis Budinauckas (Rangers), Lyall Cameron (Dundee), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Murray Johnston (Airdrieonians on loan from Hibs), Daniel Kelly (Millwall), Leon King (Rangers), Adedire Mebude (KVC Westerlo), Lennon Miller (Motherwell), Jack Milne (Aberdeen), Liam Morrison (Queens Park Rangers), Jeremiah Mullen (Leeds United), Josh Mulligan (Dundee), Dane Murray (Queen's Park on loan from Celtic), Lewis Neilson (St Johnstone on loan from Hearts), Calvin Ramsay (Wigan Athletic on loan from Liverpool), Cieran Slicker (Ipswich Town), Miller Thomson (Dundee United), Bobby Wales (Kilmarnock), David Watson (Kilmarnock).