RICKY SBRAGIA does not look like the sort of character many would fancy taking liberties with. In his new Scotland under-21 set-up, however, dissenting voices are not only tolerated but encouraged. Even before they have been handed the key to the door, Scotland’s young players are being given a platform by Sbragia and his staff to express their opinions on anything from training methods and tactics, to team selection and set-plays. In this touchy-feely brave new world – one that seems miles away from the days of youth players barely able to look their superiors in the eye for fear of accusations of insubordination – Sbragia hopes players will develop new-found confidence that will, in turn, lead to better performances. Whether this policy of ruling by democracy rather than dictatorship is having the desired effect will become clear over the next week and a half when the young Scots host first France and then Iceland at Pittodrie in their ongoing quest to qualify for the 2017 European Championships.

“I've always been happy to give players their place, and I did that at under-17s and under-19s as well,” he said. “Sometimes we forget about the players. We’ve got so much of a plan in front of us about what we’re going to do with the time we have and when we’re going to do it.

“For the Northern Ireland game we missed a couple of training afternoons - we thought they were okay but some were saying they were tired and a rest might be more important, as they’d had a lot of football. And to be honest, we don't know what the demands are in training at all their clubs all the time, so [that seemed fair].

“They have their say when we look at DVDs as well. It's not always about what we’re telling them. It’s more: what do you think? What do you see? They might see something completely different from us.

“I’ll give you an example [of players taking the initiative]. The under-19s played Switzerland a few years back and we won a free kick. We had practised them in training and Joe Chalmers hadn’t been a part of it all. And then he starts walking up to the ball and I say to Jamie Lindsay who was in the dug-out, “where’s he going?” And he says, “Ricky, he’ll score”. And sure enough he took the ball and scored. So there is always scope for changing things.

“The only thing we lock down is penalty kick takers. We have one nominated, and then a list after that if the first choice isn’t on the pitch. But beyond that there is a degree of freedom. We always say to the players that if on the day they feel they can do it, then do it. Never mind what was planned or what was done before. And even if Joe had missed I wouldn’t have had a go at him. If he thinks at that time he can make a difference, then great. Ever since my Manchester United days I’ve always been brought up that way and that’s how I try to treat them. They are adults, professionals and learning the game. Why should I stop them and say, “This is what you should be doing.” I can give them a little bit of information and coaching but once they go over the line they deal with the pressure.”

Sbragia credits time spent working with Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers and Brian McClair at United for opening his eyes to a different approach.

“One of the reasons I went [to Bolton] was to develop young players. The other was to benefit from the knowledge that Sam had, how he treated young players and his man-management of them. He barked a few times but only a few times in three years. Mostly it was very constructive what he said. The players at that time played for him.

“I remember Chocky [McClair] also said to me, “make sure it’s the best three or five years of these players’ lives. Do everything for them. Make sure they love it and want to come in to training". Training was always different but there was that freedom. Sometimes we wouldn’t coach them. We’d just let them get on with it whereas previously it would have been quite robotic. Now that doesn’t happen at our level. The players know their responsibilities but they’ve got a freedom to express themselves as well.”