Hearts Jamie Walker gets call for Scotland U21s

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on 19/03/2013 11:59

SCOTLAND Under-21 coach Billy Stark has called Hearts teenager Jamie Walker into his squad for the first time.

The winger is included for the opening European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Luxembourg at St Mirren Park on Monday, reward for some impressive displays at club level.

Walker joins his Tynecastle colleagues Jason Holt, Kevin McHattie and David Smith in the squad after Celtic’s Tony Watt and Kilmarnock’s Rory McKenzie withdrew. In his maiden season at senior level, he has made 19 appearances, scored one goal and sampled a national cup final as Hearts lost the League Cup against St Mirren on Sunday. The Under-21 call-up provides the 19-year-old with a timely lift following the disappointing 3-2 defeat at Hampden Park.

Walker has previously represented Scotland at Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 level and will now be eyeing a debut with the Under-21s, although Stark is expected to start him amongst the substitutes on Monday evening. The Luxembourg game is the first in the qualifying series for the 2015 European Under-21 Championship. Scotland are in Group 3 alongside the Netherlands, Slovakia and Georgia as well as Luxembourg.