U21 coach Billy Stark keen to pair Forrest and Rhodes

Scotland under-21 manager Billy Stark is eager to see how Jordan Rhodes and James Forrest combine when his side travel to Holland later this month.

Stark hopes Celtic winger Forrest, who has four full caps, and Huddersfield striker Rhodes – who was yesterday included in Craig Levein’s senior squad for next week’s friendly with Cyprus – can help end Holland’s 100 per cent record in European Under-21 Championships qualifying .

Stark said: “James has got a few strings to his bow, but he’s certainly as close to a winger as we have in Scotland. He can provide crosses and we know that Jordan is good in the air. That sounds like quite a good mix.”

Levein revealed Stark had “pleaded” with him to make Forrest available for the Group 10 game on Monday 14 November, with the under-21s unbeaten in second place behind Holland following two draws and a win.

However, Stark warned against putting too much expectation on Forrest, whose recent performances have attracted the attention of Tottenham.

“If Craig had felt he’d needed James for Cyprus, he’d have been there,” Stark added.

“But he was good enough to allow him to join us. We have to be careful from that point of view that he is not looked on as a saviour.

“He’s a young lad that’s done particularly well for the youth levels and now he’s doing it both for his club and the full international team.

“All he needs to do is keep doing what he’s been doing. He’ll need the help of ten or 13 others in the game on Monday night, there’s no doubt about that.”

Rhodes will be looking to extend his run of five goals in the last two under-21 games in Nijmegen.

Oldham-born Rhodes, who qualifies for Scotland through the five-year schooling rule, has scored a total of 14 goals in his past seven games.

Following Scotland’s 11 November friendly in Larnaca, he will immediately join up with the under-21s.

Stark added: “We’re absolutely thrilled Craig’s chosen Jordan. Hopefully he’ll make his full debut in Cyprus and then come and join us.

“The goalscoring ratio that he has is as good as anything I can remember. He’s been doing that at a decent level and he has been for a couple of years.

“He’s shown he can score at international level for us. Hopefully he can continue that.”

Scotland Under-21 squad: G Adam (Rangers), J Archer (Tottenham, on loan to Bishop’s Stortford), M Ridgers (Hearts, on loan to East Fife); C Booth (Hibernian), D Cole (Rangers), P Hanlon (Hibernian), R Jack (Aberdeen), R Perry (Rangers), D Wilson (Liverpool); S Allan (Dundee United), T Cairney (Hull), J Forrest (Celtic), L Kelly (Kilmarnock), L Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday), P Pawlett (Aberdeen), D Wotherspoon (Hibernian), G Wylde (Rangers); L Griffiths (Wolves, on loan to Hibernian), A MacDonald (Burnley), J Rhodes (Huddersfield), J Russell (Dundee United)