Gus Poyet feels Liam Bridcutt can go to new level

BRIGHTON manager Gus Poyet believes Liam Bridcutt’s Scotland call-up is “totally deserved” and hopes the midfielder can cap a stunning spell by making his international debut.

Bridcutt was a surprise inclusion in Gordon Strachan’s first competitive squad announcement as the former Celtic boss seeks to lift the nation with wins in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia.

The 23-year-old, who qualifies through an Edinburgh-born grandfather, will have been catapulted to “another level” by his inclusion, according to his club manager.

And Poyet, himself a former Uruguay internationalist, is thrilled the former Chelsea youngster – who was Brighton’s player of the season last year – has won recognition for his on-field displays.

He said: “I’m really, really happy for him. When any player gets their first call from the national team, it is always a special feeling.

“You go to another level when you become an international. Now he is going to worry about who he is going to know and how he is going to get on. He has ten or 15 days and now I am going to try and calm him down and make sure he plays well for us in the next three games.

“I hope he will be able to make his debut. The more internationals we have in the team, the better team you have, I have no doubts about that.

“Sometimes you buy a player who is already an international but sometimes you need to help a player to get in there.

“The most important thing is he has done the job on the pitch. It is totally deserved.”