With every international window that comes around, there seems to be another emerging young Scottish talent who breaks into the Under-21 set-up. In recent times we’ve had Ben Doak for example. Emilio Lawrence of Manchester City is another.
It’s now Robbie Ure’s turn to shine under Scot Gemmill’s watch. The head coach of the U21s hasn’t made any promises, but he’s keen to see the towering striker up close.
The 19-year-old left Rangers during the summer. He came through the club’s academy and was offered terms to stay. It could have been easy to sit in the reserves, playing B-team football, but that wasn’t something he wanted for himself. He recognised that he was at such a pivotal stage in the development of his career.
Ure broadened his horizons and looked abroad. He perhaps looked at Josh Doig, Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson as Scottish success stories for those who have chosen to look further afield.
Initially, he spent a fortnight on trial with AZ Alkmaar. A deal looked to be on the table, but the finances couldn’t be worked out. Ure returned to Scotland to spend some time training, and keeping fit, at both Kilmarnock and Queen’s Park.
He persevered with his dream of testing himself on the continent, though. A free transfer to Belgian side Anderlecht eventually materialised for Ure. He has been playing for their second side RSCA Futures so far this season. He’s been in fine form for the Under-21 team, scoring four goals in five games. He’s also notched an assist in the 386 minutes on the field in Belgium’s First Division.
Gemmill is excited to work with Ure and has praised him for chasing regular first-team football rather than waiting in the wings for something coming to him.
“It’s great to give him an opportunity,” the 52-year-old said. “Again, it’s another example of us using the chance to have a closer look at him like we have done with many of the players.
“I’m very respectful of the level that he’s playing at. If you do some digging, the level that he’s playing at is very well respected comparatively with some really good leagues around Europe.
“He’s a player that we know really well because of his time at the younger age levels. It’s going to be good to work with him. He’s another example of how our pathway has changed for young players, for sure.
“It’s not always the case that you have all of these attacking options but right now it’s great to be able to select all of these attacking players that are scoring and assisting goals at a really good level.
“There’s no question the pathway has changed for these young players. They’ve all got agents, they can see their peers at the same age or who are slightly older making these moves and getting these opportunities.
“The clubs have got confidence in our players as well. The clubs around Europe can see the proof of our young players going abroad, doing well and making a mark for themselves. That obviously gives them the confidence to give our players chances.”
Doak has been included in the U21s camp for the upcoming Euros qualifiers against Belgium and Hungary on the road. He has been involved at first-team level at Liverpool this season, with Jurgen Klopp affording him opportunities in the Europa League.
Max Johnston and Doig are other players in the U21s who are on the cusp of the men’s A-team squad and have been previously called up by Steve Clarke.
Gemmill insists Doak’s situation remains the same, and that Clarke prefers to promote them from within rather than giving them a straight call-up anyway.
He said: “Max is a brilliant example for all of the young players. They know how close they are and they know that Steve Clarke has been brave and clever enough to give these young guys opportunities.
“It’s not just Max, it’s happened with Josh, Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey. There are loads of young players in this Scotland squad and it’s fantastic that they can see how close they are.
“They need to keep performing well not only for us, but for their clubs as well. The gap between the U21s and the men’s A is closer than ever. It wasn’t like that historically but it definitely is now.
“Steve has shown in the past that he prefers to name the young players in the Under-21 squad. It’s then up to him and his staff when they choose to give the opportunity to the young players.
“Steve is comfortable with that and we are too. I’m sure he knows he can take them whenever he wants.”
Scotland Under-21 squad in full:
Matthew Anderson, Connor Barron, Ibane Bowat, Kieron Bowie, Lyall Cameron, Tommy Conway, Ben Doak, Josh Doig, Ryan Duncan, Max Johnston, Leon King, Emilio Lawrence, Alex Lowry, Ben McPherson, Dire Mebude, Michael Mellon, Liam Morrison, Jeremiah Mullen, Lewis Neilson, Jack Newman, Cieran Slicker, Jude Smith, Robbie Ure.
