Scotland look to Feruz as first immigrant player

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith believes Islam Feruz has the potential to inspire a whole generation of immigrant talent to pledge their allegiance to Scotland.

SNS - Islam Feruz: On Celtic's books

Celtic youngster Feruz, 14, last month became the first player to benefit from a recent rule change that allows British passport holders to represent any of the home nations, provided they have been educated in that country for five years.

Born in Somalia, Feruz moved to Glasgow with his family seven years ago and has since become a British citizen.

His impressive performances for Scotland Under-17s have demonstrated the potential benefits of a rule change which was the brainchild of Smith.

Smith said: "The young lad, Islam Feruz, is a great example of what can happen, and he might be a role model for a lot of these kids now to come forward and get through to play for their country.

"It helps that the first one is exceptionally gifted! You never know whether he's going to become a professional - he's still got a bit to go. There are a lot of kids who have been special at 15 but weren't special at 18.

"Hopefully, he's going to make it and he'll be a great example.''

Andrew Driver has unwittingly become the other poster boy for the rule change, though Hearts' Oldham-born winger has yet to make up his mind whether to transfer his allegiance from England.

Speaking at the official opening of Broughton High School in Edinburgh, Smith said: "I think he's been a victim of this whole thing, because he's being put under pressure.

"He's officially English at the moment because he played for the England Under-21s and he'd have to change his nationality with FIFA. Why should he even consider that unless he's going to be selected for Scotland?

"The thing we need to know about first and foremost is where his Scotland career's going. If he comes into contention for selection then there's a situation to consider. Until that happens, I think the boy should be left alone.''

Driver was therefore not in the Scotland squad named by George Burley for next Saturday's friendly in Wales.

Injured Celtic midfielders Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney were also omitted. Neither player travelled with their club to Hamburg for the make-or-break Europa League clash, with Brown still troubled by an ankle problem and Maloney having suffered a heel injury.

Cardiff's Ross McCormack and Birmingham's James McFadden have both been recalled after missing last month's friendly defeat in Japan through injury. Fellow forward Kevin Kyle is also back in the squad after being unable to accept a late call-up for the Japan game due to a knee problem.

Scotland squad for the friendly with Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on November 14 (kick-off 3pm):

Craig Gordon (Sunderland), Jamie Langfield (Aberdeen), David Marshall (Cardiff); Christophe Berra (Wolves), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Steven Caldwell (Burnley), Danny Fox (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Tottenham), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Lee Wallace (Hearts), Steven Whittaker (Rangers); Don Cowie (Watford), Graham Dorrans (West Brom), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Ross McCormack, James McFadden (Birmingham), Barry Robson (Celtic), Kevin Thomson (Rangers); Steven Fletcher (Burnley), Kevin Kyle (Kilmarnock), Kenny Miller (Rangers), Steven Naismith (Rangers), Derek Riordan (Hibernian).