Zak Rudden has become the first Scottish FA Performance School player to be called up to a Scotland squad appearing at a major European Championship Finals.

Rangers striker Rudden will join up with the Scotland Under-17 squad tomorrow as they head to Bulgaria to compete at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship Finals.

He has replaced Dundee United’s Alistair Coote, who has withdrawn at the request of his club.

Rudden made history by becoming the first Performance School player to score for his country at National Youth Team level when he netted in an under-15 win over Switzerland last year.

The 15-year-old trains with the Performance School at Broughton High School five days a week as well as training and playing with his club.

As part of the Scottish FA's £15m Performance Strategy, seven schools throughout the country house the cream of Scotland’s talented young footballers.

They marry their football education with their normal curriculum as part of the Scottish FA’s commitment to elite player development.

Scotland Under-17s play their first match at this summer’s finals against France on Thursday, 7th May, kick-off 3pm (UK time).

Gemmill’s side also face Greece and Russia in Group C, with the top two teams progressing to the quarter-finals.

Last year’s under-17 squad reached the semi-finals of the tournament and this is the first time Scotland have qualified for back-to-back finals at this level.