UEFA Elite Round Scotland v Portugal Wednesday, 20 March, kick-off 6pm Simple Digital Arena, Paisley

UEFA Elite Round Scotland v Russia Saturday, 23 March, kick-off 4pm Simple Digital Arena, Paisley

UEFA Elite Round Scotland v Poland Tuesday, 26 March, kick-off 5pm Energy Check Stadium, Glasgow

Scotland will be looking to return to the UEFA Under-17s European Championship finals in style this week, as they begin their UEFA Elite Round campaign on home turf.

Having missed out on qualifying for last year’s event – the first time since 2013 that a Scotland side had been absent from the finals —, Brian McLaughlin’s side will be hoping to book their place at this summer’s tournament in the Republic of Ireland by topping their UEFA Elite Round group.

Seven of the best runners-up will also book their passage to the finals, yet with home advantage in hand McLaughlin’s men will be hopeful of making a statement in front of their home supporters.

The team arrive at the UEFA Elite Round in good form, having emerged unbeaten from a brace of friendlies in Pinatar last month.

Scotland’s best performance at the UEFA Under-17s European Championships came in 2014, when current Scotland Under-21s head coach Scot Gemmill guided his team to the semi-finals in Malta.

Team News

Brian McLaughlin has named a 20-strong playing group for the upcoming trio of fixtures, which includes nine members of the Scottish FA JD Performance School programme.

Ayr United defender Finn Ecrepont and Aberdeen’s Connor Barron are amongst those currently enrolled in one of the seven Schools nationwide, as they set their sights on this summer’s finals tournament.

Home-based players are complemented by squad members plying their trade south of the border, such as Manchester City’s Cieran Slicker and Thomas Dickson-Peters of Norwich City.

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