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Archived News from September 2016

IACOVITTI CALLED UP FOR SCOTLAND U21
30th September 2016 19:00


twitter @alexiacovitti, Tuesday 27 Sep 2106

Really happy to have been selected for the Scotland under 21 squad for the UEFA qualifiers

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Iacovitti misses Notts derby after Scotland U21 call-up
chad.co.uk

Mansfield Town’s defensive options will be further depleted for the local derby visit of Notts County next month after on-loan Forest defender Alex Iacovitti this week received a call-up to play for Scotland U21s.

Iacovitti, 19, is one of 12 uncapped players in an experimental squad, the first announced by new Scotland U21 boss, former Forest midfielder Scott Gemmill.

He will be away from Mansfield for UEFA European Championship qualifiers in Iceland on 5th October and Macedonia on 11th October which means he will miss the One Call Stadium showdown with the Magpies on 8th October as well as the Checkatrade EFL Trophy game at Port Vale next Tuesday.

Stags boss Adam Murray already has fellow defenders George Taft and Kyle Howkins sidelined with injury, but is happy for Iacovitti whom he has been delighted with so far.

“He has been superb,” said Murray (speaking at Accrington on Tuesday). “Even though he’s played a few in the Championship, he’s not had a lot of competitive football, especially in League Two.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/iacovitti-misses-notts-derby-after-scotland-u21-call-up-1-8154984

“But he’s come in, he’s been brilliant, both at centre half and at left back where he was outstanding.

“So it’s a big loss, especially in a local derby as he is so hungry to do well for Mansfield. But it is only League game and it’s good for him.”

Former U17 and U19 coach Gemmill took over the reins from Ricky Sbragia last month, who quit after the 4-0 away loss to Ukraine earlier this month.

Hearts defender John Souttar is suspended but there are a lot of new names.

Middlesbrough’s on-loan Hearts defender Jordan McGhee, Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson, Motherwell’s midfielder Chris Cadden, Dundee attacker Craig Wighton and Swansea City striker Oliver McBurnie are the most recognisable faces in the side.

Gemmill said: “We have very exciting young players coming through and this is an opportunity for them to test themselves at a very high level.”

The Scots are completely out of the reckoning for qualification for the UEFA U21 championships, being held in Poland this summer, as they languish second bottom of Group Three in the qualifying campaign.

The best Gemmill’s babes can hope for in their final two qualifiers is a fourth-placed finish with Macedonia leading the chase by a point from France.

Iacovitti has already played for his country at U17 and U19 level.

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Scot Gemmill names new-look squad as he rings the changes with Scotland Under 21s
27 SEP 2016, BY TONY HAGGERTY
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/scot-gemmill-names-new-look-8922750

THE SFA coach picks his first group for a side that is already out the running to qualify for the championships.

SCOTLAND Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill named his first squad at Hampden today - and it’s a new-look line-up.

Gemmill took over the reins from Ricky Sbragia last month who quit after the 4-0 away loss to Ukraine earlier this month.

Former under 17 and under 19 coach Gemmill has named 12 uncapped players in the side for the double-header against Iceland and Macedonia in October.

Hearts defender John Souttar is suspended but there is a lot of new names.

Middlesbrough's on-loan Hearts defender Jordan McGhee, Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson, Motherwell's midfielder Chris Cadden, Dundee attacker Craig Wighton and Swansea City striker Oliver McBurnie are the most recognisable faces in the side.

Gemmill said: “We have very exciting young players coming through and this is an opportunity for them to test themselves at a very high level."

The Scots are completely out of the reckoning for qualification for the UEFA Under 21 championships being held in Poland this summer as they languish second bottom of Group Three in the qualifying campaign.

The best Gemmill's babes can hope for in their final two qualifiers is a fourth-placed finish with Macedonia leading the chase by a point from France.

SQUAD:

Goalkeepers ...

Ryan Fulton (Liverpool, on loan to Chesterfield)

Mark Hurst (St Johnstone)

Defenders ...

Kyle Cameron (Newcastle United, on loan to Newport County)

Alex Iacovitti (Nottingham Forest, on loan to Mansfield Town)

Zak Jules (Reading)

Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian, on loan to Middlesbrough)

Jake Sheppard (Reading)

Liam Smith (Heart of Midlothian, on loan to Raith Rovers)

Midfielders ...

Chris Cadden (Motherwell)

Greg Docherty (Hamilton Academical)

Liam Henderson (Celtic)

James Jones (Crewe Alexandra)

Aidan Nesbitt (Celtic, on loan to Greenock Morton)

Ruben Sammut (Chelsea)

Craig Storie (Aberdeen)

Forwards ...

Ryan Hardie (Rangers, on loan to St Mirren)

Oliver McBurnie (Swansea City)

Craig Wighton (Dundee)

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