SCOTLAND'S Under-19 side will have to overcome the Auld Enemy if they are to reach next summer's European Championship finals in Hungary, writes Stewart Fisher.
Yesterday's elite round draw bracketed the Scots with England, Ukraine and Montenegro in a group which will take place south of the border from May 24-29, immediately precipitating a country-versus-country clash for the likes of Dundee United's Ryan Gauld, Jordan McGhee of Hearts and Celtic's Stuart Findlay, all of whom may be required for the Under-21 qualifier against the Netherlands on May 28.
Mark Wotte, the Scottish Football Association performance director, and youth coaches Billy Stark and Ricky Sbragia will meet next week to make discuss the issue, but the general rule of thumb is that the older age group takes precedence.
"The fixtures will clash so it is not going to be possible for the likes of Stuart, Jordan and Ryan to play for both," Wotte told Herald Sport. "So it is just common sense to see what Billy needs. The best team available will play for the Under-21s."
Having qualified for the elite round at Under-17 and Under-19 level for the first time since 2009, Scotland will host the younger age-group in the last week of March, in a section with Romania, Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The venues have yet to be selected, although Uefa insist they must be within an hour of Glasgow or Edinburgh.
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