'Fletcher dispels myth that Clarke does not back youth'
Tyler Fletcher's surprise call-up to Scotland's World Cup squad has "split opinion" but has "dispelled the myth" that head coach Steve Clarke is unwilling to give youth a chance, according to former striker Rory Loy.
The Manchester United 19-year-old was chosen to replace the injured Billy Gilmour instead of Udinese's Lennon Miller, Rangers' Connor Barron, or Sparta Prague's Andy Irving.
Fletcher, who has played twice for his club, earned his first cap as a substitute in Saturday's 4-1 friendly win over Curacao having initially been among a group of under-21 players invited to train with the senior squad.
"I think young Tyler Fletcher being right under Steve Clark's nose this week has definitely helped," former Falkirk and Dundee forward Loy suggested on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "And, credit to him, because he's obviously stepped up in training.
"From the things I'm reading, he's done very, very well and made a good impression. He was given 45 minutes at Hampden. I thought he was excellent, really good.
"So Andy Irving, Connor Barron, Lennon Miller, they'll be disappointed, but ultimately Tyler Fletcher was there, run right under the manager's nose and was so good that they couldn't ignore him obviously in training and in the game at the weekend.
"Steve Clarke's been criticised quite a lot about not bringing in fresh face faces and not having younger players in the squad.
"I think there's enough now that have been exposed to it and bloodied in and that are part of the squad to really point to the fact that I think that myth's got to be dispelled a little bit now."
Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson suggested: "If he's half as good as his dad [former Manchester United midfielder Darren], we're on to a right winner."
As for those who missed out, Thomson backed them to respond, adding: "You don't get to this level and down tools and spit the dummy out."
