DUNDEE UNITED'S Ryan Gauld is rated so highly, he's been tagged with the nickname of "Baby Messi" at Tannadice but there's no chance of the youngster getting carried away as he prepares to make his mark at international level.

The 17-year-old midfielder looks certain to have a big future in the game and will be a key man in Ricky Sbragia's Under-19 squad, who will begin their UEFA Elite round against hosts Belgium in Geel tonight.

Mark Wotte, the SFA performance director, has talked up the current crop of Scots youngsters and the likes of Gauld, former Aberdeen winger Ryan Fraser, Everton's Matt Kennedy, Celtic's John Heron and Rangers' Lewis Macleod are touted to make their mark in the tournament.

However, Gauld's growing reputation is such he's already earned that Messi moniker at United and although the diminuitive playmaker may laugh that off, he's deadly serious when it comes to proving that size doesn't matter tonight against a Belgian side, who look like giants in comparison to the young Scots.

He said: "I know the expectations are there, but I can't let that get into my head. It's nice to hear people talking about me but I have to keep my feet on the ground.

"I worried about my size going against me, especially in Scotland where it's a physical league but I was taught to adapt my game so that it doesn't have an impact on me and I can play in a way where my size makes no difference. The Belgian boys are big but we believe we're as good as them. If we can pass the ball about better than them then size won't come into it."

Gauld was trained by former Dundee United and SFA youth coach Ian Cathro, who is now working in Portugal for Rio Ave and he credits his former coach for giving him the skill and kind of confidence that helped him impress at Hampden when United narrowly lost to Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden last month.

He said: "Ian did huge things for me. I went to his coaching sessions from a young age and was part of that for four or five years. It was unbelievable the stuff he knew. His coaching was really good and even though he's working in Portugal now I try to keep in touch with him."

However, Sbragia was keen to play down expectations about his group of kids, who are aiming to qualify for the July finals in Lithuania. In fact, the former Sunderland manager is more concerned about the future of the youngsters in the current climate of the Scottish game.

Sbragia said: "I think we have some good players here, but we have to be realistic. My belief is that they have to go through a process and the next stage of that is the Under-21 team.

"It's a good group and we have a few missing. But to jump from here to the A squad is really difficult. It's going well but it's important we don't get carried away. It will take time and if some of these kids come through, great but I have to look at where I think they will be in two years' time.

"With the financial state of Scottish football, where will they be? Out of this squad, we might have six or seven who aren't even in the game any longer. Some of them might not make the grade. They might not be taken on by clubs and be given new contracts.

"I would hope they all come through but football's not as simple as that. I'd be quite pleased if one or two make the Under-21 squad and, to be honest, if one makes the A squad I'll be delighted."