Sixteen-year-old Ryan One made headlines when he struck the winner that sent Hamilton Accies into Sunday’s SPFL Trust Trophy final.
But the teen talent won’t be firing the team to glory after being called up to the Scotland under-17 squad for this week’s European qualifiers.
It’s a big blow for the player and the club, but boss John Rankin has insisted his hands are tied.
One netted an extra-time winner in the 2-1 victory over Queen of the South and Rankin said: “Ryan One is away with the 17s. That’s Euro qualifiers and we can’t influence that at all.
“The last time Ryan was quite upset that we pulled him out of the previous Scotland squad. He wanted the experience.
“I felt at that time we had important [league] games against Inverness and Arbroath and had to keep him.
“The Scotland 17s were playing warm-up games at that point so he fully understood, but was upset. I can understand that.
“But this time I don’t have that option. He is aware of that.
“We have to go with it. He is fortunate enough and good enough to play for his country so he has to go and enjoy that experience.
“We’d have loved to have had him but we don’t have that option.”
Also missing from the clash will be on-loan Hearts midfielder Connor Smith, who is away with Scotland under-21, but he is cup tied anyway.
Meanwhile, Rankin says he has been impressed by Saturday's opponents this season and expects a tough contest from Ian MUrray's men, having watched them against Rangers in the Scottish Cup earlier this month, where they "did the dirty side of the game well" in a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox.
He said: "Ian’s teams always play good football, are competitive and exciting and expansive.
"We have played them three times this season. I watched them at Ibrox and you don’t learn a lot from teams playing Rangers or Celtic but I learned that day Raith can do the dirty side of the game as well.
"They tracked their men, made challenges and did the hard stuff.
"I watched Airdrie a lot last season, an Ian Murray team, they play free-flowing football with lots of good players and that’s why he took Dylan Easton with him. I also saw Scott Brown for Peterhead and he has taken players from League One who can influence the Championship."
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