Scotland under-21 boss Scot Gemmill has challenged his players to use the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifier against Kazakhstan as a "huge carrot" towards senior recognition.
The young Scots sit second in their qualifying group at the halfway stage and a win on Thursday would go a long way to securing a spot at the tournament in Slovakia.
Gemmill's squad is filled with talented stars who are tipped for big things. Bristol City forward Tommy Conway, 21, and Sturm Graz defender Max Johnston, 20, are two players on the periphery of Clarke's squad. Conway joined a senior training camp last summer while ex-Motherwell starlet Johnston was a late call-up in October.
Gemmill knows these guys are desperate to represent Scotland regularly at the highest level but believes the standards have risen and they must continue displaying the right attitude within his U21s group for the time being.
He said: “They are good examples of players who are physically good, technically good but they have got very good attitudes, they are very switched on young players.
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“They know exactly what they have to do and know they need to do it consistently. I give them a lot of credit for putting themselves in the position where they are.
“For me it is attitude, you don’t get to play for Scotland at any level, whether it is Under-16s, Under-19s, Under-21s, full squad if you don’t have the technical level, the real difference is the attitude, the mentality and being able to influence games and finding a way to stop good players influencing games as well.
“You have to have everything. The level is going up and up.”
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Rangers’ Cole McKinnon has been brought into the squad following a trio of withdrawals, with Josh Mulligan, Ben McPherson and Kai Fotheringham all dropping out.
Gemmill also confirmed Clarke, who can only name a 23-man squad for Euro 2024 this summer, watches the youngsters matches closely and there's always an opportunity to stake a late claim to be on the plane to the major tournament in Germany.
“I don’t feel the need to push it to them personally, they are all intelligent players, they know how close they are and they know how closely Steve watches our games," he added.
“So of course it is a huge carrot right there in front of them and they have to use these games as all the games, anything can happen in that regard.
“It is for the players to show (quality) on a consistent basis, it is fair to say they have all shown it.
“It is the challenge for all young players, you have to do it consistently between now and the end of the season and I would say that applies to the full squad as well, I have heard Steve say that himself.”
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