Scotland Under-21s: England youth among six new faces

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Callum McFadzean on loan to Burton AlbionImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Callum McFadzean was on loan to Burton Albion this season

England youth international Callum McFadzean is among six new faces in the Scotland Under-21 squad to face Hungary in a 26 March friendly in Budapest.

The Sheffield United 20-year-old and Dundee United's Charlie Telfer are the new additions in midfield.

Manchester United's Donald Love and Swansea City's Stephen Kingsley are fresh among the defenders.

Jason Cummings, of Hibernian, and Lawrence Shankland, of Aberdeen, are the new faces among the strikers.

Cummings is rewarded for three goals in three games for the Easter Road side, who now sit second in the Scottish Championship.

Midfielder Sam Nicholson, who has yet to make a playing appearance for the youth Scots, joins Jack Hamilton, Jordan McGhee and Callum Paterson from Championship leaders and Edinburgh rivals Hearts.

It is Danny Lennon's first squad since the former Cowdenbeath manager, who was not offered a new contract by St Mirren in the summer, was handed the job of looking after Scotland Under-21s on a caretaker basis after the departure of Billy Stark.

The Whitburn-born 45-year-old, who earned a B cap for Northern Ireland, has brought in McFadzean, who was born in Sheffield and represented England at under-16 level.

McFadzean has not made a first-team appearance for the League One outfit this term but made 11 appearances on loan to Burton Albion in League Two earlier in the season.

Image source, SNS
Image caption,

Jason Cummings has scored three goals in three games for Hibs

Lennon said he had conducted an extensive search for new talent even though he realises he might only be in charge for one game.

"I have only been four weeks into the job and it has been action-packed," he said. "I have left no stone unturned. I did my due diligence.

"I have looked at around 60 players, spread over 30 clubs in eight leagues.

"I have talked to the players' managers, the players themselves, watched games and DVDs.

"It is impossible to take in every single game and have had some fantastic people that have helped me along the way.

"Whether this is for one game or for a longer period of time, I am certainly preparing myself for the long term."

Scotland Under-21 squad

Goalkeepers: Jack Hamilton (Heart of Midlothian). Jonathan Henly (Reading)

Defenders: Stuart Findlay (Celtic), Marcus Fraser (Ross County), Dominic Hyam (Reading), Stephen Kingsley (Swansea City), Donald Love (Manchester United), Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian), Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian)

Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Daniel Handling (Hibernian), Callum McFadzean (Sheffield United), John McGinn (St Mirren), Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian), Charlie Telfer (Dundee United), Craig Slater (Kilmarnock)

Forwards: Jason Cummings (Hibernian), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), Ryan Gauld (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Declan McManus (Aberdeen), Lawrence Shankland (Aberdeen).