Kids Are Gunning For A Big Finn-Ish

Aug 17 2008 By Mark Guidi

BILLY STARK is backing his Scotland Under-21s to haul back group leaders Finland in a grandstand finish and snatch qualification for next year's European Championships in Sweden.

Stark knows the classy Finns are clear favourites to retain top spot as he takes his players to Lithuania for Wednesday's must-win game in hand.

Victory would set them up for their last two clashes - Slovenia at home and Denmark away.

And maximum points in the run in would crank up the pressure on Finland who the Scots are relying on to slip up.

U-21 boss Stark said: "Finland won their first five games and are in a great position.

"Their keeper and back four have played right through the campaign and some of their players are attracting interest from Italy's Serie A.

"To finish top we need them to drop points but there is still a lot to play for and the important thing is we win our next game.

"We have to be positive and simply must win all our remaining matches.

"I'd settle for going into our last qualifier against Denmark needing a win to take us through."

Stark has lost skipper Steven Naismith to injury and Steven Fletcher to the full squad but is happy to see his young guns gain full international recognition.

He reckons Mark Reynolds (below) could be next to join the big boys and said: "It's a blow not to have those two strikers but we have to be happy to see Fletch progress to George Burley's squad.

"If we can produce another two or three to make the step up then that's not a bad return.

"Reynolds could make that move. He is progressing well at Mother well and has been a top team fixture for a while.

"We also have the likes of Scott Arfield doing well while Paul Caddis and Ross McCormack are gaining first-team experience. I've no doubt some of the lads can handle the step up given time."