McKenna and Smith called up

Ricky Sbragia has named a 27-player training squad as preparations for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round begin.

Aberdeen’s Cammy Smith and Scott McKenna are in the squad.

Scotland reached the elite round last month after finishing second and unbeaten in their qualification group, which featured Germany, Latvia and Belarus.

The squad will be together for two days on 16th and 17th November.

Squad list:

Goalkeepers

Ryan Crump (Liverpool)

Ryan Fulton (Liverpool)

Liam Kelly (Rangers)

Ross Stewart (Motherwell)

Defenders

Cameron Burgess (Fulham)

Scott McKenna (Aberdeen)

Mark O’Hara (Kilmarnock)

Ryan Sinnamon (Rangers)

John Souttar (Dundee United)

Midfielders

Cameron Smith (Aberdeen)

Lewis Kidd (Celtic)

Liam Henderson (Celtic)

Jamie Lindsay (Celtic)

Adam King (Heart of Midlothian)

Alex Mowatt (Leeds United)

Andrew Murdoch (Rangers)

Charlie Telfer (Rangers)

Tom Walsh (Rangers)

Forwards

Fraser Aird (Rangers)

Aiden Connolly (Dundee United)

Sam Gallagher (Southampton)

Denny Johnstone (Celtic)

Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian)

Gary Oliver (Heart of Midlothian)

Jordan Preston (Blackburn Rovers)

Frazer Murdoch (Crewe Alexander)

Derice Richards (Stoke City)

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Scott McKenna this week was interviewed for the Young Dons feature in RedMatchday.

If you told an 11 year boy that in five years time he would be playing with a SPFL Premiership first team, playing for his country and coming up against English Premiership stars, most would think you were completely mad.

But that’s what has happened to Scott McKenna – some rise to prominence for the Kirriemuir-born player.

On the international front, Scott was at the heart of the Scotland U19 defence as they beat hosts Belarus 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Germany to advance to the elite qualifying stages of the European Championships. At 16 Scott was one of the youngest in a talented looking Scotland squad.

“Getting picked ahead of players older than myself for the last two games made it a brilliant week for me. That was actually the first time I was away with them. I played one game for the Scotland 18s, when we beat Holland 2-0, before being called up to the 19s squad. I did not get on during the draw against Latvia in the first game, but played 90 minutes in the second match against Belarus which we won and then kept my place for the match against Germany.

“The Germans had a very strong side which included Gnabry of Arsenal. He scored for the Gunners just the week before and also scored Germany’s goal against us. Their movement was quite something, their players just floated about everywhere, but we did really well to get a draw and qualify”.

Despite only recently beginning his football career as a professional, Scott has already been involved with the Aberdeen first team squad and he played in a number of the preseason games. Almost as soon as Scott was in the door this summer, he was away with the senior side to Dublin. As he explains though, you should always answer your mobile, even if you don’t know the number that’s calling?

“I was in the digs one night and I got a call from a number I did not recognise. I phoned it back and it was the manager to my surprise! He then told me I was going to Dublin with the first team, told me to make sure I brought my passport in with me, and that was it!

“It was a bit daunting at first as I had only trained with the first team once and I did not really know anyone. All the boys really helped me whilst I was away and made me feel part of the squad. In the games over there I was nervous but after the first ten minutes, you get into it and settle down. Everyone in the team would speak to me and help me through the game. I was also in the squad for the Falkirk League Cup game – there were only five subs allowed, so I had to take a place in the stand it was still a great experience.

To read the rest of the interview buy a copy of RedMatchday on Monday night.