Rangers and Celtic stars earn Scotland under-21 call ups

Alex Lowry has earned his first Scotland under-21 call-up off the back of some outstanding performances for Rangers.

The 18-year-old, who was an unused substitute in Rangers' heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Frankfurt in the Europa League final last night, has broken into the Ibrox first team this season.

And in the last couple of weeks, in particular, the Uddingston star's stock has soared, having signed a new deal at Ibrox until 2025 and earning man of the match awards in the Scottish Premiership wins over Ross County and Hearts. The midfielder also netted and assisted a goal in the 3-1 win over the Jambos at Tynecastle.

Now the former Braidhurst High School pupil has been rewarded with a first call-up to Scot Gemmill's squad for the EURO 2023 U21 qualifiers against Belgium on June 5 and Denmark on June 10.

Also in the squad is fellow Lanarkshire star Stephen Welsh. The Celtic defender, from Coatbridge, has captained Gemmill's side and goes into the latest camp off the back of lifting the Scottish Premiership title with the Hoops and being voted the club's academy player of the year.

Welsh will be hoping to bounce back from a defeat on his last Scotland U21 outing - a 2-0 defeat to Turkey in the qualifyiong group - which he described as the 'worst of any age group for Scotland.'

After that defeat at Tynecastle he said: "That first-half performance was one of, if not the worst I’ve seen from a Scotland team at any age group,” he said.

"From past experience going through the age groups - 17s, 19s and now 21s - even if a side is better than you, you still work harder than them.

"I don’t think we worked 50 per cent to what Turkey did, although they were very good players."

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