Scotland v Georgia: 'I'm ready for debut' - Ryan Gauld

Ryan Gauld has impressed of late in Scotland's under-21 side

Ryan Gauld believes he is ready, if called upon, to make his Scotland debut at the age of 18.

The midfielder has been playing for Sporting Lisbon's B team since his summer transfer from Dundee United.

But he has been included Gordon Strachan's squad for the first time for the Euro 2016 qualifying double header against Georgia and Poland.

"I have had a good start to the season personally and I think I'm ready to go in if called upon," said Gauld.

After calling Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor into his previous squad, Strachan explained that he liked to give youngsters experience of training with the full team.

McGregor was not included this time but Gauld is taking heart from the rapid progress of his friend, former Tannadice team-mate and left-back Andrew Robertson, 20.

"It is huge encouragement," said Gauld. "He came in a did really well in his first time at training and he managed to come off the bench against Poland.

"He's never looked back from there, so I think it shows that, if you get off to the right start and make a positive contribution, it will stand you in good stead."

Strachan's assistant, Mark McGhee, has insisted that the teenager and another debutant, Sheffield Wednesday striker Stevie May, are not just in the squad to learn their trade and Gauld himself has not given up hope of a surprise appearance.

"It would be the best thing to happen to me," he said. "Everyone watches Scotland games whenever they are on so just to be involved in one would be out of this world.

"It is a huge step up. You can see that from the training, but getting to know everyone is only going to help.

"It is a great step up and great experience for myself and Stevie - something that we'll both remember and will both learn from it as well."

Gauld had not long broken into the Scotland Under-21 set-up before a fee of around £3m took him to Portugal after only 50 first-team games with United.

While he has yet to make his debut for Sporting's first team, he impressed sufficiently to be included in their Champions League squad.

"I think I've developed further my technical abilities and also the tactical side of the game," Gauld said of his short time with the Primeira Liga outfit.

"There's a lot of focus on that, so I think it's has developed me all round as well."