Hibs: Scotland date huge filip for David Wotherspoon

Hibs star David Wotherspoon today admitted to being thrilled that the SFA has chosen Easter Road to host Scotland's Under-21 European Championship qualifying clash with Iceland.

The young Scots will face Iceland twice in the space of days in a play-off to decide which nation will march on to next summer's finals in Denmark, with the second leg to be staged in Edinburgh.

It will be the first international match to be staged at Easter Road in almost three years and today Wotherspoon insisted Hibs' home, with its newly-completed East Stand, was a fitting venue for such an occasion.

The presence of Wotherspoon and Hibs team-mate Paul Hanlon will ensure plenty of local interest on the day but, the young midfielder claimed, Easter Road would be rocking in any case.

The midfield ace said: "I remember being at Easter Road for an Under-21 match against Lithuania in 2007 and there was a great atmosphere that night."

Since then, the young Scots have played in Aberdeen, Paisley, Falkirk, Hamilton and Kilmarnock but, Wotherspoon insisted, a return to the Capital was long overdue.

He said: "I'm sure the fact we have a great chance of qualifying for the finals next summer will grab everyone's attention. Obviously Paul and I would hope to be involved in both games but even if there weren't any Hibs players in the team I'm certain there would still be plenty of interest.

"I'm a relative newcomer to the Under-21s but I've now got four caps. Each time you play for your country you are filled with pride but it would certainly make it a wee bit more special, and I am sure Paul feels the

same way, to be running out at Easter Road as David Wotherspoon of Hibs and Scotland."

A dramatic last-gasp winner against Austria at Pittodrie saw the Scots finish top of their qualifying group but while Iceland qualified for the next stage as one of the best runners-up, second in Group Five to the Czech Republic, they'll still provide formidable opponents for Billy Stark's young side.

Although they were beaten twice by the Czechs, Iceland crushed defending champions Germany 4-1 at home and drew 2-2 away; dumped Northern Ireland twice and fired 14 goals past minnows San Marino.

Nevertheless, Wotherspoon insisted Stark's side will approach the two matches - the dates of which have still to be finally confirmed although UEFA's calendar has them provisionally pencilled in for 8 and 12 October - in confident mood. He said: "I don't think it would have mattered who we were drawn against.

"We are in a very positive mood, and would have taken anyone in the draw. It's been a great experience for me and hopefully it is one which will continue beyond the play-off and into the finals."