Michael Johnston has been given an overdue international call up to the Scotland u-19 side.
Despite being the driving force alongside Jack Aitchison in last season’s u-17 title win the attacking midfielder was left out of the Scotland squad that lost all three matches at the European Championship Finals in Azerbaijan.
Last month Johnston scored four times in the second half in a 5-2 Development League win over Partick Thistle, last week he scored a second half hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Dundee United to earn a late call up into Ricky Sbragia’s squad with Regan Hendry dropping out injured.
Scotland travel to the Czech Republic to take on the host nation Austria and Hungary with Sbragia assisted by former St Mirren manager Alex Rae.
Johnston is one of the most skilful players to come through the Celtic academy in recent years and has been carefully developed through the age groups although he has dropped out of the international scene last season.
This season he has filled out physically, stepped up from u-17’s into the Development League with his style of play similar in style to Aiden McGeady.
Joining him on Scotland international duty will be fellow Celts Ross Doohan, Anthony Ralston, Mark Hill and Theo Archibald.
Stephen Welsh, Robbie Deas, Dan Church, Kerr McInroy and Aitchison are with the Scotland u-17 squad that requires a point a point against Switzerland tomorrow to qualify from the Elite Round having won both of their opening matches against Montenegro and Serbia.