Feruz ready for U21 debut

MANAGER Billy Stark has confirmed that Islam Feruz (pictured here in training yesterday) is set to make his Scotland Under-21 debut in tomorrow’s friendly with Italy at Easter Road.

Aberdeen’s Clark Robertson and Michael O’Halloran of Bolton have withdrawn due to injury, with Inverness defender Graeme Shinnie called up to a 21-man squad, with a third uncapped at under-21 level.

Among the seven yet to grace the under-21 stage is forward Feruz, who last summer joined Chelsea from Celtic.

Feruz, who came to Glasgow from Somalia as an asylum seeker in 2001, this week appears set to become Scotland’s youngest under-21 international if handed his debut aged 16 years and 197 days, beating a record held by Christian Dailly.

“He’s a very young lad and he’s been recognised as being very talented,” Stark said. “Although he’s young, he’s shown he’s got something a wee bit different and I would like to think we’ll see some of that on the pitch.”