RANGERS will ask the Scottish Football Association for permission to field Lewis Macleod against Alloa Athletic on Saturday in the event that he is not required for international duty against the Republic of Ireland the previous night.

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan likes to dripfeed younger players into his squad to gain experience, but genuine first-team chances are usually harder to come by, as witnessed by the watching brief given to Sporting Lisbon youngster Ryan Gauld recently.

Should something similar transpire in the case of Macleod, who was last night named SPFL young player of the month, Ibrox manager Ally McCoist will ask the SFA to allow him deferment from their training camp at Mar Hall, cognisant of the fact that they have already given similar dispensation to three Hearts youngsters in Ricky Sbragia's Under-21 squad for their meeting with Falkirk the same day.

"I wouldn't rule that out," said McCoist. "From our point of view, it would make sense but I do appreciate that he is Gordon's player for these five or six days. But that's something we would possibly have a look at. I will certainly have a chat with Gordon."

Macleod seems far too young and fresh-faced to have an international past to look back on, but that would be wrong. If getting five minutes from the bench against England a week on Tuesday seems a likelier fate than being thrust into the heat of Group D action against the Republic of Ireland, it is at least worth pointing out that this is a player who has already locked horns with Raheem Stirling in a battle against the Auld Enemy.

Five years ago this month, the 15-year-old Macleod was playing in a Victory Shield decider against Sterling, then a talented 14-year-old at Queens Park Rangers who was interesting a host of English clubs. The game ended 2-1 to England, but the emotions will be magnified in the event of any game time a week on Tuesday.

"Even back then when he was at Queens Park Rangers you could tell Sterling was going to be brilliant," said Macleod. "His career has really blossomed and he's now one of the most influential players at Liverpool. I would be delighted to get any sort of game time when I go away with Scotland, but I know it's not going to be a quiet game against England. It would be a great experience."

If Macleod is the only member of that Scotland side to be granted full honours you could say pretty much the same thing about England. "Islam Feruz played up front for us that day and big Jack Grimmer was the captain," he added.

"There were a lot of players you expected to go on and do good things and there is no reason why they still can't. Ryan Gauld wasn't in the same team as me as he was a year younger. But it just shows you how far I have come that I have been called up. I can't see too many from that England team who have come through," he said. "There is a guy at Norwich called Nathan Redmond, who didn't even start that night as he came on as a sub.

"Then there is Nick Powell, who is at Manchester United and a good player. But back then all of their team were sought after players. The game was at Tynecastle where there were thousands.

"At Rangers you get used to playing in front of big crowds, but back then I was nervous and it will pretty much be the same come the next two games. The atmosphere will be electric."

McCoist, a substitute as Scotland went down to the Republic in 1987, our last competitive meeting, said his player wouldn't be overawed by the occasion if he was pitched into battle.

"Lewis would handle anything because he is very level-headed and he is not fazed by anything at all," said McCoist. "But whether he is ready or not, that will be Gordon's decision."