BBC Sport - Jordan Rhodes is given Scotland U-21 chance (original) (raw)

Rhodes has scored five goals for Huddersfield this season

Jordan Rhodes and Nick Ross have been drafted into the Scotland under-21 squad to face Northern Ireland in next week's friendly in Glasgow.

Rhodes was born in England but was schooled in Scotland.

He has been in fine goalscoring form for League One Huddersfield Town, while midfielder Ross has impressed with Inverness in Scotland's top flight.

Both could be involved in the international challenge match at Firhill on 17 November.

Coach Billy Stark is looking to the next generation of players and to add new faces to the squad that failed to reach the European Championship finals after a play-off defeat by Iceland.

	Jordan has completed five years of schooling in Scotland so is eligible to be selected for us and is keen to play Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark

Stark said: "The backbone of the squad is fixed in my mind, but there will always be room for other players to come into the squad.

"I have worked with most of these players at under-19s level, so many of them have played together already."

Stark is minus Liverpool defender Danny Wilson and Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan, who are both being lined up for Craig Levein's senior squad, which will be announced on Thursday for Tuesday's friendly against the Faroe Islands.

Oldham-born Rhodes has a well-known footballing father, but the 20-year-old's role is scoring rather than preventing goals.

"Jordan Rhodes scored 23 goals in 50 games last season in League One for Huddersfield Town and he has scored five in 10 this year, which is an exceptional goal-scoring record for a young player," said Stark.

Ross has broken into the Caley Thistle first team this season

"He is the son of the former goalkeeper Andy Rhodes, who played for the likes of Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone, and he has completed five years of schooling in Scotland so is eligible to be selected for us and is keen to play."

The 18-year-old Ross has become a first-team regular this season following hometown club Caley Thistle's promotion to the Scottish Premier League.

"He has started 10 matches for Inverness Caledonian Thistle this season already and is establishing himself as a first-team player," said Stark. "He deserves a chance.

"A number of these players are playing regular first team football at their clubs which reflects well for us as we should have a more experienced squad to kick off with.

"The likes of Paul Hanlon, Ross Perry and David Wotherspoon have been involved in previous under-21 squads so there is a bit of continuity there.

"The obvious players missing though are James Forrest and Peter Pawlett, who are both injured at the moment, but they could be important players for us."

Scotland Under-21 squad

Goalkeepers: M Andrews (Falkirk), J Barclay (Falkirk), M Ridgers (Hearts)
Defenders: C Booth (Hibernian), G Hanley (Blackburn), P Hanlon (Hibernian), R Perry (Rangers), S Saunders (Motherwell), C Thomson (Hearts)
Midfielders: T Cairney (Hull), J Fleck (Rangers), K Hutton (Rangers), B Inman (Newcastle), L Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday), N Ross (Inverness), D Wotherspoon (Hibernian), G Wylde (Rangers)
Forwards: L Griffiths (Dundee), A MacDonald (Burnley), J Rhodes (Huddersfield), J Russell (Dundee United)