Luis Binks is Serie A's forgotten Scot trying to follow Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson's Bologna blueprint

He’s the forgotten Scot of Serie A. Okay, so he wasn’t actually born here. And he sounds more Cockney than Caledonia. But Luis Binks’ dream is to pull on a Dark Blue shirt and join Steve Clarke’s boys on the road to Euro 2024.

Everyone here is aware of our current Italian success stories. Lewis Ferguson is flying at Bologna. Before him, Aaron Hickey was ripping it up there ahead of making a £14million move to Brentford. At Verona, Josh Doig has made an impact in his first season. While Liam Henderson rarely looks fazed up against any of the top sides when he plays for Empoli. They are all household names at home having made their mark at Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs.

But Binks? Far less so. He was born in Gillingham and grew up at Tottenham Hotspur. But as a kid he’d regularly take trips to Dunbar to see his Scottish grandad Richard and his mum’s side of the family.

That’s why, when the Tartan Army first clapped eyes on him in the Victory Shield six years ago, he was proud to be called a Scot. Later, as he progressed at Spurs, he played for both England and Scotland up to Under-19 level.

But there was one place he felt more comfortable – and it wasn’t with the Auld Enemy. Binks is now 21 and at Bologna alongside Ferguson.

He’s also best pals with Hickey and a former team-mate of both Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour at youth level. The centre-back has already played in Serie A and last season spent a year on loan at Como, playing alongside ex- Arsenal and Spain legend Cesc Fabregas.

Before that, he was in the MLS at Montreal Impact where his gaffer was Thierry Henry. And now he’s got his eye on a future Scotland call-up.

Speaking exclusively to MailSport , Binks said: “It does feel a bit like I’m the Scot in Italy who