Steve Clarke Rangers call backfires as young Ibrox star suffers Euro devastation
10/16/2024 07:30 AM
Rangers midfielder Connor Barron would've been celebrating after being called up to the Scotland squad for the UEFA Nations League clash with Portugal.
Only a few days earlier was the talented 22-year-old midfielder a stand-out performer for the Scotland U21s as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Belgium.
It was enough to convince Steve Clarke that Connor Barron was the man to call upon when Celtic winger James Forrest pulled out of the squad.
But the decision, initially lauded by Rangers fans, may well have backfired as the Scotland youth side suffer tournament heartbreak at the final hurdle.
Connor Barron misses crucial Scotland U21s clash
As Scotland earned a 0-0 draw against the mighty Portugal, with John Souttar pocketing Cristiano Ronaldo in the process, Barron could only watch on from the bench.
Scotland have had a number of injury problems in recent months and Barron has twice been a late addition to the squad due to drop-outs.
But the near ever-present Rangers star is yet to make his international debut.
As a result, the decision to call up Connor Barron to the senior squad might well be a source of immense frustration for Scotland U21s coach Scott Gemmill.
Barron has been an influential key player for the U21s in their European Championship qualifying campaign but missed the nation's final group clash against Kazakhstan as a result of the senior call-up.
On a bitterly disappointing evening in Pavlodar, Scotland were defeated 3-2 by Kazakhstan and as a result missed out on a playoff shot at qualification for the tournament in Slovakia.
Rangers kid suffers Euros heartbreak
In a disastrous few days for the nation at U21s level, a Lennon Miller inspired 10-man Scotland were eventually defeated in Kazakhstan.
Rangers-linked Lennon Miller had equalised for Scotland in the second half v the Kazakhs but the young Scots soon succumbed to defeat.
Young Celtic star Dane Murray saw red minutes later, with Kazakhstan scoring the subsequent penalty to regain their advantage before stretching their lead within eight minutes as Scotland collapsed.
A late effort by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen wasn't enough to rescue the campaign for the Scotland U21s.
Rangers goalkeeper Lewis Budinauckas played the entire game and would've been heartbroken come the final whistle.
Former Rangers talent Adedire Mebude, who has this week been speaking about leaving Ibrox for Man City, also came off the bench.
Whilst defeat to Belgium meant Scotland were underdogs heading into the final game of qualifying, the Red Devils slipped up in a 1-0 defeat to Hungary.
The result means Scotland would've progressed to the playoff stage in Group B of qualifying had they defeated Kazakhstan on the final game of qualifying.
The Spanish U21s dominated Scotland's group, earning nine wins and solitary draw, which came against Belgium last November.
Rangers star Connor Barron had been involved in all seven of the Scotland U21s' qualifying matches for which he was available.
