Captain Josh Doig has made a triumphant return to the Scotland Under-21 squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers in Belgium and Hungary. The Hellas Verona defender is back in action following a period of injury, rejoining the youthful squad. Also, making a comeback is striker Tommy Conway of Bristol City, who has previously led the Under-21s as their captain.
Lyall Cameron and Dire Mebude, both of whom had to withdraw from the previous squad due to injuries, have successfully secured their spots in the 23-man squad. Additionally, Liverpool winger Ben Doak is back in the mix after recovering from an injury, while there is a notable first call-up for ex-Rangers striker Robbie Ure.
Ure, at 19 years old, has been catching the eye with his performances for RSCA Futures in Belgium and is now set to make his debut appearance under the guidance of Under-21 coach Scot Gemmill.
Max Johnston, the Sturm Graz right-back who was called up to the senior squad for a friendly against France last month, is also making a return to the Under-21 team.
Despite these positive returns, there are a few notable absentees. Calvin Ramsay and Lewis Fiorini remain sidelined due to injuries, and Josh Mulligan is not participating in this camp as he has undergone surgery.
Coach Scot Gemmill sees the senior team’s impressive qualification for the European Championship in 2024 as a source of inspiration for his Under-21 squad. He believes that the young players’ development is the primary objective but acknowledges their eagerness to emulate the success of the senior team.
Gemmill also underscores the opportunity for the Under-21 players to be on the radar for the senior squad, as injuries to established players could open doors for them. He encourages his players to strike the right balance between recognizing their youth and striving to prove themselves as potential senior team members.
The Scotland Under-21 team, currently sitting in third place in Group B, is preparing to face Belgium in Roeselare on November 17 and then travel to Budapest for a match at Hidegkuti Nandor Stadium four days later. Their previous encounters include a 3-1 victory over Hungary and a 2-1 win against Malta, with Kieron Bowie leading the scoring charts with three goals from two games in the qualifiers.
Here’s the complete Scotland Under-21 squad for the upcoming qualifiers:
Matthew Anderson (Admira Wacker Modling)
Connor Barron (Aberdeen)
Ibane Bowat (TSV Hartberg, on loan from Fulham)
Kieron Bowie (Northampton Town, on loan from Fulham)
Lyall Cameron (Dundee)
Tommy Conway (Bristol City)
Ben Doak (Liverpool)
Josh Doig (Hellas Verona)
Ryan Duncan (Aberdeen)
Max Johnston (Sturm Graz)
Leon King (Rangers)
Emilio Lawrence (Manchester City)
Alex Lowry (Hearts, on loan from Rangers)
Ben McPherson (Queen’s Park, on loan from Celtic)
Dire Mebude (Westerlo)
Michael Mellon (Morecambe, on loan from Burnley)
Liam Morrison (Wigan Athletic, on loan from Bayern Munich)
Jeremiah Mullen (Leeds United)
Lewis Neilson (Partick Thistle, on loan from Hearts)
Jack Newman (Dundee United)
Cieran Slicker (Ipswich Town)
Jude Smith (Newcastle United)
Robbie Ure (RSCA Futures).
