[struth]

ALLY MCCOIST is delighted that Gers starlet Lewis Macleod is back in the Scotland under-21 set-up for this week’s Euro qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.
The talented midfielder missed a lot of last season due to illness but has bounced back in style this term, scoring four goals from his seven competitive outings so far.
Returning to Billy Stark’s plans at international level has been another boost for 20-year-old Lewis who will be hoping to get more match action under his belt in the next few days.
The games against Slovakia and Luxembourg – which will be played in Senec on Thursday and Differdange next Monday – are the last in Group 3 for the young Scots and two victories could see them clinch second place. But with only the best four of the 10 runners-up from all groups advancing the chances of Stark’s kids progressing further are slim.
McCoist, however, is just pleased Macleod has been included in the squad. Speaking at Murray Park he said: “It’s brilliant. I saw Lewis here yesterday training with the 21s and it’s great to see him back in the international set-up. He deserves it. His form so far this season has been very, very pleasing and we are delighted for him.”
From the Rangers website

www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7596-ally-pleased-for-lewis

[El Car]

He's turned out well for Scotland in the past so hopefully it'll be more of the same. Sad to have to say it but I'm fairly certain that, no matter where we play in the next few seasons, Macleod will never make the full Scotland team while Strachan is in charge. He can try to justify it all he likes, but refusing to call up Wallace because he was playing in the lower leagues, yet persisting with Hutton who spent long periods not playing anywhere at all and using 2 incredibly average right backs at left back (where, no great surprise, they performed at a less than average level) belies what's at the heart of his selection policy.

I'm still a Scotland fan so I have to want us to be successful whoever the manager is, but I also think Macleod is a player we could realistically be building the national side around, and we'll lose years of potential as long as Strachan is there.

[El Car]

The u-21 match finished 1-1 in Slovakia with Macleod setting up Scotland's opener. A decent enough result in a dead tie (for us anyway) but qualification is difficult at this level and we need to win this sort of game in future if we want to make it to the final tournaments.

[Trusevich]

Followed a bit of it on twitter. Conceding a late equaliser came as no surprise, really. Seems the U21s are a little too keen to follow in the Senior team's shoes.

[supercooper]

Just glad to see the boy getting back to where he should be.
Just hope we can hold on to him for a few more season.

[Trusevich]

He's already looking better than he did last season. He's stronger, quicker and slowly gaining maturity. Most of that is natural development mind you though.