Rhodes delight at Scotland call-up

Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes has described his call-up to Craig Levein’s Scotland squad as the fulfilment of a dream.

Oldham-born Rhodes, who qualifies for Scotland through the five-year schooling rule, has scored 14 goals in his last seven games, five of them for Billy Stark’s Scotland Under-21 side.

He has been rewarded with a place in Levein’s squad for the November 11 friendly with Cyprus in Larnaca and will then immediately join up with the under-21s for their European qualifier with Holland on November 14.

The 21-year-old told www.scottishfa.co.uk: “It’s a real honour to be picked for the senior squad.

“Just five months ago I wasn’t involved in any kind of international football so to be part of the set-up and to get some recognition from the senior squad is a boyhood dream.

“There was a bit of media talk and speculation about a potential call-up but I tried my best not to let it affect me and to remain completely focused on my club football until the squad was officially announced.

“To be in the pockets of the likes of Darren Fletcher and Charlie Adam for the week will be a fantastic experience.

“They are household names and play at massive clubs but the team is littered with some great players so I’m looking forward to getting an insight into how they go about their work and I hope to learn from them.

“I can’t wait to meet up with the squad.”

James Forrest was left out after Stark “pleaded” with Levein to allow the Celtic winger to play for the under-21s in Nijmegen on November 14.

But Rhodes will hope to make his debut in Cyprus and then help Scotland Under-21s cut the gap at the top of Group 10 to Holland, who have maximum points from three games.

Rhodes added: “It will be an exciting few weeks for me.

“The senior squad and the under-21s both have difficult games but this is a dream come true for me and I’m looking forward to being a part of something which is a little out of the ordinary for me in terms of being part of the Scotland senior squad.

“The Netherlands will of course provide us with a tough game and we will have to be at our best if we want to get a result out there.

“Any away game is difficult but to play the Dutch in their own country will not be an easy task as they have some fantastic players.

“However, we will be focused and hopefully can get the right result.”