ON a world gymnastics stage, Scottish success has long been synonymous with a two-prong Daniel attack courtesy of messrs Keatings and Purvis.

So, it is perhaps fitting that the latest rising star among the ranks should share that moniker.

Step forward Daniel Iley, the Edinburgh-born gymnast who is fast cementing his status as one to watch. The 2013 Scottish junior all-around champion made his debut at senior level earlier this year. At the Scottish National Gymnastics Championships in February, Iley finished in fourth place behind Purvis, Keatings and Frank Baines.

He posted 81.101 - above the required Glasgow 2014 all-around qualification standard of 80.500 - with strong performances on rings, vault and high bar.

"Standing there in fourth place with world and Olympic medallists on the podium in front of me felt special," he said. "To be 17 and not too far behind these guys, that is one of my proudest moments."

Iley will be back in action tomorrow at the Commonwealth Invitational at Bells Sports Centre in Perth. The event marks the final opportunity for Scottish gymnasts to qualify for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Exeter-based Iley has already gained the qualification standard for the all-around event as well as five out of the six individual apparatus: pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar. It is his goal to produce another strong set of scores this weekend in order to show consistency.

The way Iley sees it "everyone is pushing for that photo finish, running full speed for the line". He is all too aware that choosing the five athletes who will make up Team Scotland men's gymnastics squad is likely to pose a headache for selectors given the strength and depth of the current talent pool.

With Purvis, Keatings and Baines in stellar form, it is his belief that everyone else is realistically battling it out for two spots. "I do feel sorry for whoever has to make that decision because it's going to be tough one," said Iley. "We have three guys who are among the best in the world and they are going to be the core of the team.

"Then there are six or seven of us fighting for those two remaining places. We have all done what we need to do and up there together."

Iley, who first showed a flair for the sport at a toddler's tumble gym in Haddington, spent three years doing acrobatic gymnastics before switching to artistic aged 10. His ability to fly largely under the radar until now can largely be attributed to the fact Iley spent almost two years out of the sport in his early teens as he recovered from injury.

"In 2009/10 I snapped a ligament in my shoulder and had to have surgery," he said. "That meant a year out of gymnastics. It was another year after that before I started competing properly again. The 2012 British Championships was one of my first competitions back.

"It was a horrible shame because before I got injured I was in the British squad but not being able to compete for two years my name was scratched off the list."

He admits that things can get confusing on the Daniel front. "Dan Purvis is 'Danny P' and Dan Keatings we refer to as 'Keatings'. I'm 'Apples,'" said Iley.

It transpires that "Apples" is a nickname coined after a piece of fruit belonging to fellow Scottish gymnast Adam Cox was inadvertently used by Iley as juggling ball. "He dubbed me 'apple thief' which was then shortened to 'apples,'" he laughed.

Iley is cautiously optimistic when asked to rate Scotland's chances of a medal in the men's team competition at Glasgow 2014. "Taking all the highest scores from the men's senior Scottish Championships and putting them into a team situation it would make a very high and respectable score which would have got a medal in Delhi," he said. "You can't pin medals round anyone's necks but we have a decent chance, especially with the support of the crowd."