Scott Gemmill has been forced to name an almost exclusively SPFL-based Scotland U21s side as English Premier League rules take the likes of West Ham United duo Harrison Ashby and Brian Kinnear out of contention
The U21s travel to Turkey next month for the first 2023 European Under-21 Championship qualifier. A red-list country amid the Covid-19 pandemic, English-based players are not exempt from isolation measures upon their return. It means the likes of West Ham United pair Ashby and Kinnear miss out for head coach Gemmill.
West Ham United talent Ashby is missing while Hibs’ Hull City loanee James Scott (right) is drafted in. (Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Scott Banks at Crystal Palace is also missing while Cieran Slicker, Tom Clayton, Lewis Fiorini, Scott High, Josh McPake, Dapo Mebude and Jack Stretton are the others to miss out. Ewan Urain is the only non-SPFL player involved. The Premier League down south has stated it will not release players playing in red-list nations for international duty.
A statement reads: “Due to UK Government rules England-based players are not exempt from travelling to red-list countries and would need to self-isolate for 10 days on their return, therefore 10 players from the original named squad are unavailable for selection.
“Scotland-based players are permitted to travel due to a Scottish Government exemption which will allow the team to visit Turkey for less than 48 hours and not self-isolate on their return. Gemmill has now named nine new players in the squad which will meet ahead of their training camp for the opening match of the qualification campaign.
“Goalkeepers Harry Stone and Lewis Budinauckas have been presented with the chance to impress along with Hibernian’s recent loan signing James Scott who has also been called up. Jamie Hamilton will bolster the defensive options while Kai Kennedy will be aiming for his first Under-21s appearance.”
#SCO21s | Scot Gemmill has named a revised squad for the Scotland Under-21s match against Turkey, due to red list exemption rules for English-based players.#YoungTeam
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 29, 2021
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