Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark heaped praise on Andrew Robertson after calling the Dundee United defender into his squad for the first time for the forthcoming UEFA European Under-21 championship qualifiers against Slovakia and Georgia.
The 19-year-old left-back only turned professional in the summer after signing from Queen’s Park and has caught the eye with a series of outstanding performances for the Tannadice side, capped by a stunning solo goal against Motherwell last month.
Robertson’s manager Jackie McNamara has described him as a “revelation”, and Stark said: “I saw Andy with Queen’s Park a few times last season and I was really impressed with him.
“Obviously you are making a judgment of a player playing in the Third Division against players that are playing higher up.
“But since he has gone to Dundee United he has hit the ground running and he has grasped the left-back position from the off.
“In the first televised game against Partick Thistle he was impressive. We have been keeping an eye on him since then and he has been rewarded by getting in and it has been well-deserved.”
Scotland host joint group leaders Slovakia at St Mirren Park on 10th October, before travelling to Tbilisi to face Georgia four days later.
Stark confirmed that Celtic striker Tony Watt, on loan at Belgium side Lierse, was left out due to concerns about his fitness, an issue which has been well-documented in the past few weeks, while 18-year-old Chelsea forward Islam Feruz will join the Scotland under-19s squad which will go to Belarus for the European Championships.
Watt was criticised for his fitness and workrate by Lierse boss Stanley Menzo, and Stark said: “It has been highlighted over the last week by the Belgium manager. He does need to work on his fitness.”