Islam Feruz set to make history as youngest Scotland U21 cap

HEALTH permitting, Islam Feruz will make history next week at Easter Road when he gains a first cap for the Scotland Under-21 side against Italy. At 16 years and 197 days old, he will break Christian Dailly’s record for being the youngest player to represent Scotland at this level by 125 days.

Dailly was 16 years, 322 days old when he made his debut in 1990 against Romania, a game which was also staged at Easter Road. The then-Dundee United striker went on to enjoy a long career for both the under-21 and full international sides, as did the player who he succeeded as the youngest performer at under-21 level, Paul McStay.

The omens are therefore promising for Feruz, who gained further recognition when scoring a stunning 25-yard winner for Chelsea against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the first leg of the recently televised Youth Cup semi-final. The inevitable fear is that Feruz’s explosive impact at both Chelsea and Celtic, where he started his career after arriving in Scotland as an asylum seeker from Somalia 11 years ago, will eventually suffer from the burden of expectation placed on his young shoulders.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Another concern could be his level of commitment to the Scottish cause now he is domiciled in England, and at one of the wealthiest clubs in the land.

This worry is not believed to have played a part in Feruz’s call-up to the under-21 side, although such a promotion is only likely to strengthen the player’s ties to Scotland, and to those who have taken such an interest in his career since he began to exhibit promise.

His skills were spotted by Celtic scout John Simpson when he was a ten-year-old playing at Castlemilk sports centre. He was championed by the late Tommy Burns, then in charge of the club’s youth academy. Burns even stepped in to help fight the threat of deportation.

There was a sense of loss and no little anger when Feruz decided to move to Chelsea last year, for a minimal compensation fee. However, Feruz has continued to shine at under-17 level for Scotland, and manager Billy Stark is confident that the time and circumstances are right to hand him a taste of playing at a higher level.

Stark is looking forward to working with the striker, whose rapid progress prompted a question about where the former Aberdeen and Celtic midfielder had reached in his own career by the age of 16. “Playing at secondary juvenile level,” was the answer.

Stark did not sign for St Mirren, his first club, until he turned 17. His tall, wiry frame is another contrast to Feruz, whose powerful upper body is sure to stand him in good stead against Italians who, even at this level, are sure to be well practised in the art of defence.

“We thought: ‘Why not?’” said Stark. “He is young and it grabs the attention a wee bit. We are not trying to put more pressure on him. It was just an opportunity to get him in.”

Feruz’s precocity is illustrated by the squad list, where the next youngest player – Aberdeen’s Clark Robertson – was born in 1993, as was another new call-up, Celtic’s Dylan McGeouch. Their yet younger team-mate was born in 1995.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There’s no doubt, if you are good enough you are old enough,” said Stark, who revealed that Feruz will begin the game among the substitutes.

“The first objective was to get him in there and see how he fits in,” he added. “Obviously the fact it is a friendly means we can come to an agreement to use just about everyone.”

Stark acknowledged that Feruz’s attitude will have as much say in his development as the obvious talent. “Other things come into it,” he said. “There’s temperament, discipline, how they want to live their lives. I don’t think you can say for sure anybody is going to be a top player at that age. What you can recognise is that they have the talent to get there.”

Stark explained that Leigh Griffiths’s exclusion was down to knowing what the Hibs striker can do already, while Jordan Rhodes, the Huddersfield Town forward, has been rested after a long season with his club side.

The Scottish Football Association, meanwhile, are offering youth groups a discounted ticket offer for the match at Easter Road next Wednesday. Five adult and 20 child tickets can be purchased for just £30. Full details at www.scottishfa.co.uk. Gate price is £5 adults and £2 for children.

Scotland U21 squad (for friendly match against Italy U21 at Easter Road on 25 April):

G Adam (Rangers, on loan at Airdrie), M Edwards (Rochdale), M Ridgers (Hearts); P Hanlon (Hibernian), R Jack (Aberdeen), R Perry (Rangers), C Robertson (Aberdeen), L Toshney (Celtic, on loan at Kilmarnock), D Wilson (Liverpool, on loan at Blackpool); S Allan (West Brom, on loan at Portsmouth), S Armstrong (Dundee United), L Kelly (Kilmarnock), R McCabe (Rangers), K McLean (St Mirren), L Palmer (Sheff Wednesday), D Wotherspoon (Hibernian); I Feruz (Chelsea), A MacDonald (Burnley, on loan at Plymouth), D McGeouch (Celtic), G Mackay-Steven (Dundee United), M O’Halloran (Bolton, on loan at Sheffield United), J Russell (Dundee United).