SCOTLAND Under-21 skipper Scott Cuthbert today tipped Hearts defender Lee Wallace to be the next player to make the step up to the full national side.
Celtic defender Cuthbert will take the armband for tonight's international challenge match against Norway at Rugby Park and is himself hoping to impress at a higher level. He believes that Wallace, who made his debut for the Tynecastle side at the ag
e of just 17, has got what it takes to follow in the footsteps of team-mate Christophe Berra by catching the eye of George Burley and making it into the full squad over the coming months.
Cuthbert said of his team-mate: "Lee has been in the Hearts first team for three years or four years now and has had a lot of experience, as has Calum Elliot.
"He has played a lot of games and so you do benefit from getting into the first team from an early age and getting the games under you belt in the SPL.
"I think that Lee is good enough to be playing in the first team, I think that he has shown since he has come into the Scotland squad that he is a really good player and that he has got what it takes to be playing at a higher level."
Cuthbert will wear the captain's armband with pride this evening and sees it as his own tribute to Celtic coach Tommy Burns, who died last week after losing his battle with skin cancer.
The player added: "It's been a terrible week and even though we knew that he wasn't doing too well it was still a shock for it all to happen so quickly.
"He was such a strong character, such a strong guy that we really didn't expect it and it has been a huge blow to everyone at the club and in football.
"He was such a down-to-earth guy, he didn't have any ego about him. He was great with the fans, he loved his job and he loved the club as well, he was a Celtic man through and through.
"I signed 'S' forms with him and my first full-time contract and he had a big influence on all of the players who were coming through at my age level.
"He was an unbelievable person, he used to train the young boys during the day and then still be there at half seven at night working with the Under-15s.
"It's been a real shame to have lost him.
"It will be brilliant to be captaining the side, especially at Rugby Park where he used to be the manager and it would be a really nice bit of respect to have the minute's silence or minute of applause."
Cuthbert was today due to attend Burns' funeral and added: "
It would be nice to get a win for him.
"It is going to be an emotional day but you need to put that to the back of your mind and try to get the right result for him because at the end of the day we have got a few games to go.
"We have still got four games left in the championship and everyone wants to be involved so there is still a lot to play for. There was a sense of optimism right from the start of the group. We didn't start too well against Finland but we felt that we could have got some points off of them.
"And against Denmark we drew and then started to play well and get some victories. We've got some really good players as well. Ross McCormack and Stephen Fletcher are both up in the first squad and Steven Naismith has been playing well and playing for Rangers now.
"We've got some great players and that's who we now have to build our team around."
And Cuthbert is hoping that he can put in a performance that will catch the eye of his club manager, Gordon Strachan.
It may only be a friendly match as they prepare for their next European Championships qualifier but it gives the country's rising stars the opportunity to make the breakthrough into the first team at domestic level.
A number of youngsters have already made that step, the likes of McCormack and Gary Kenneth missing out on this match because they are involved in the final SPL matches of the season.
And Cuthbert is desperate to force his way into Strachan's plans for next season. The defender has yet to make an appearance for the top team at Parkhead but added: "That's the aim when you are playing with Scotland, to try to make an impression to play at as high a level as possible for club and country.
"It's the same as at Celtic, you play for the reserves and you hope that you can take the step up into the first team.
"As far as Scotland is concerned, we have got a few good youngsters in the squad; there's guys like Scott Arfield and Kevin McDonald, who are doing really well and playing every week in their league and hopefully they can make the step up in the next couple of years as well.
"The money has really come into the game over the past few years and there are a lot of players breaking through.
"There are a lot of young boys who are playing in the UEFA Cup and the Champions League as well which can only be good for the game in this country. That can only help us. This might be a friendly but they are all very big games, you don't get an easy international these days, not even in a friendly and it is important that we go out there and show Billy Stark and Jim Fleeting that we are ready to play in the next championship game.
"Our manager always comes and watches us play when we are involved with Scotland and from that point of view especially, this is an important game because it maybe gives you a chance to show that you can hold your own against some top international players."
Under-21s boss Billy Stark admits that the extension to the SPL season has forced him to shuffle his pack but is hoping those brought in to the side grab their chance with both hands and said: "It's a friendly game and there are a few boys out because they are involved in the final game of the Premier League on Thursday night, so there is a different kind of feeling about this game but the boys who have been brought in will get a good opportunity, that is just the nature of international football.
"Obviously we didn't predict the league season being extended but we are looking forward to the game after what will be a difficult day with Tommy Burns' funeral taking place.
"The vast majority of our Under-21 players are playing in the Premier League and I think that is a barometer of the quality that we have, compared to previously. Obviously it runs in cycles and that may change when this group gets older, but we will just have to wait and see.
"Over the last few years we can be quite happy with the achievements at the youth levels."
The full article contains 1233 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
