The Preview: Gemmill guilty of overlooking top Championship talent

The idea that it is the responsibility of an international manager to develop players has always been somewhat unfair.

After all, how much can realistically be achieved in that regard given the limited time national squads and coaches actually spend together on the training pitch over the course of a season?

Yes, players will pick up bits and pieces here and there, but it’s at their respective clubs where the bulk of their learning takes place.

At international level, results are really all that matter. Scotland head coach Steve Clarke knows that all too well.

It’s why he responds to regular criticism of team selection or style of play with a customary shrug.

He cares not a jot about what people think of his loyalty to certain players, or his reluctance to freshen things up — at least in the eyes of the Tartan Army — and nor should he. The results speak for themselves.

The same cannot be said, however, for the man running the show with the Under-21s.

Scot Gemmill has done a terrific job of staying under the radar throughout his nine-year spell at the helm. Amazing, really, given how poor his reign has been.

Nineteen wins from 64 games in charge is a woeful record. Among that lot were victories over Latvia, Andorra, San Marino (twice), Lithuania, Malta (twice), Kazakhstan (twice) and Gibraltar.

Yes, there have been impressive triumphs over the likes of the Netherlands, Croatia and Belgium, but the failures far outweigh the successes.

He has yet to take his side to a European Championship, and the smart money would suggest they won’t be attending the big event in 2027 either.

The Scots are five points off the play-off spot currently held by Czechia in Group B with six qualifiers remaining.

A trip to Gibraltar a week today will be quickly followed up with a clash against Bulgaria at Fir Park. Six points is an absolute must if we are to have any chance of still being relevant when the next set of fixtures come around in March.

Perhaps the likes of Andrew Tod, Findlay Marshall, and Ben Stanway will have done enough to get a call-up by that point. Then again, perhaps not.

The trio have lit up the Scottish Championship this season, but their names were nowhere to be seen on Gemmill’s latest squad list. For whatever reason, none have managed to get a look-in. Strange to say the least.

Tod, 19, has been an ever-present for Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline side, netting 10 goals in all competitions.

‘I’m bewildered by that decision [to leave Tod out],’ said Lennon ahead of today’s meeting with St Johnstone.

‘We were asked if he was fit for duty a week ago. They’ve been to watch him, and he scored in the game and played great.

‘But he’s still not in the squad, I’m lost for words on that one.’

You’re not alone, Neil.

Marshall has been front and centre during Arbroath’s surprise promotion charge, starting every game in the second tier this season.

Yet six goals and a string of impressive performances in midfield haven’t been enough to catch Gemmill’s eye either.

‘Sometimes I scratch my head with how they come up with this selection process,’ admitted Partick Thistle manager Mark Wilson, who was left puzzled as to his 21-year-old starlet Stanway was omitted from Gemmill’s squad.

‘There’ll be other boys that are playing consistently in this competitive league that just get overlooked. It’s mad.’

No one is saying that any of the aforementioned are the finished article. Of course not.

But each are playing regular first-team football in a division which tends to take no prisoners. Indeed, they are thriving.

Any frustration will no doubt be compounded by the fact that several players without a senior appearance to their name this season have got the nod.

Ethan Sutherland — once of St Mirren — is plying his trade for Wolves in the Premier League 2, as is Emilio Lawrence with Man City and Rory Wilson at Aston Villa.

All are fine young players (they wouldn’t be where they are if that wasn’t the case), but they are nowhere near the first team. Not yet, anyway.

Hearts forward James Wilson netted a hat-trick against Gibraltar in the last international camp, but can you really read too much in to that? He hasn’t featured for the runaway Premiership leaders since being hooked at the break against Motherwell back in August.

Now, this is not a criticism of the lad. He’s already demonstrated his talent, and he undoubtedly has a huge future ahead of him. But in the here and now, questions have to be asked about what he has done lately to earn the chance to represent his country.

It doesn’t make much sense when guys who are playing week in, week out are left on the outside looking in.

Oddly enough, it’s not as if Gemmill and his staff have a blind spot when it comes to the lower leagues.

Ben McPherson (Partick), Taylor Steven (St Johnstone), Liam McFarlane (Alloa), Kyle Ure (Ayr United), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (Dunfermline) and Ruaridh Adams (East Fife) all made the latest squad.

But too many young talents — many of whom will be in action for their clubs this weekend — are being, for lack of a better word, ignored in favour of academy players.

Gemmill is doing himself no favours.