Let me pound Sterling: Rangers youngster Lewis Macleod aims to see off Irish...

[ian1964 10,390]

...then renew battle with English rival.

 

RANGERS star Lewis Macleod is delighted to be in Scotland squad for Friday's clash with Ireland but he already has eyes renewing a rivalry with the Auld Enemy.

 

LEWIS MACLEOD admits he has an old score to settle with the Auld Enemy.

 

The Rangers striker was part of Scotland’s Under-16 side that lost 2-1 to an English team that included Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling.

 

The Victory Shield defeat in 2009 at Tynecastle provided a glimpse into the future – and fast forward five years, the two graduates will be reunited at Parkhead next Tuesday.

 

Macleod’s promotion into Gordon Strachan’s senior squad for the double-header against Ireland and Roy Hodgson’s men is more about gaining experience than game time.

 

But the midfielder insists he’s desperate to get up close and personal once more with Sterling – and hopes for a happier ending.

 

Macleod was awarded the Young Player of the Month trophy for October and he said: “You could tell Sterling was going to be brilliant.

 

“His career has really blossomed and he’s gone from QPR to become an influential player at Liverpool.

 

“Raheem is different class. There will be teams looking at him in January. He’s the type you want to play against.

 

“I would be delighted to get any sort of game time with Scotland but I know it’s not going to be a quiet match against England. But it would be a great experience.

 

“There were thousands of fans at the Tynecastle game in 2009.

 

“We lost because of a dodgy decision by the ref.

 

“It was 2-1 but we scored first and played well. I was taken off after about 60 minutes but it probably was my fault for the first half.

 

“Hopefully things go better in the next couple of weeks.

 

“Back then I was nervous and it will pretty much be the same come the next two games. The atmosphere will be electric.”

 

The meteoric rise from Murray Park hopeful to the brink of his first international cap has been stunning but Lewis admits there’s time for some of the class of 2009 to follow his trail. And the 20-year-old is adamant Strachan’s policy of promoting the kids is starting to pay dividends.

 

He said: “There were a lot of good players in our Victory Shield side. Islam Feruz played up front for us that day and big Jack Grimmer was the captain.

 

“There were a lot of players you expected to go on and do good things. There is no reason why they still can’t.

 

“It just shows you how far I have come that I have been called up.

 

“Wee Ryan Gauld wasn’t in the same team as me as he was a year younger. It is good to see the likes of Andy Robertson, Stevie May and myself getting called in.

 

“It just shows you the gaffer is not scared to call up the young players.

 

“I can’t see too many from that England U-16 team who have come through. There is a guy at Reading called Daniel Redmond who came on as a sub. And Nick Powell is at Man United and a good player.

 

“But it just shows how long ago it seems as all of their team were sought-after players.

 

“It takes an awful lot to reach the full England squad so all credit to Raheem as he’s been brilliant.”

 

Macleod admits playing for his country at senior level was beyond his wildest dreams but that reality will come a step closer when he meets up with the rest of the Scotland squad today.

 

He said: “You always have aspirations to do better. You don’t really think about that at the time as it looks such a long way away.

 

“Back then I was only about 14 or 15 years old but it’s good that I’ve come through the ranks for both club and country.

 

“This is the best week of my career. I don’t expect too much when I go away with the squad but just to be there and experience it for myself will be great.

 

“It is a huge difference to go from playing Cowdenbeath the other night to getting a chance to play Ireland and England at Parkhead.

 

“I haven’t spoken to Strachan. It’s my first time with the squad so I can’t expect to get a lot of game time.

 

“Hopefully the experience can be beneficial for years to come. I will try my hardest so hopefully I can impress him and possibly be involved in future squads. There has been a change in the Scotland squad and it looks quite promising. The manager has them playing good football.”

 

Macleod will also get the chance to meet a childhood hero when he trains alongside Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher.

 

He said: “I wanted to be like Darren growing up. He was at the heart of things and it doesn’t get much better than playing for Man United.

 

“He’s the type of guy I looked up to and you want your career to go the same way. So it will be weird to train with these guys next week.”

 

If Macleod is given his debut he’s vowed to hang on to his first Scotland top.

 

He said: “I might be greedy and keep that for myself.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pound-sterling-rangers-youngster-lewis-4596946

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Rangers may ask for Macleod to leave Scotland duty.

 

Ally McCoist will consider asking Scotland coach Gordon Strachan to release Lewis Macleod from international duties so he is available to play for Rangers on Saturday.

 

The young midfielder was last week named in the Scotland squad for matches against Republic of Ireland and England. But if Macleod is merely to be an observer for the Euro 2016 qualifier against the Irish on Friday, Rangers manager McCoist says he may ask permission to have him back briefly for the game against Alloa Athletic on Saturday.

 

“I wouldn’t rule that out,” McCoist said. “From our point of view it would make sense but I do appreciate that he is Gordon’s player for these five or six days. But that’s something we would possibly have a look at. Hearts are trying to do that with two of their under-21 players so I will certainly have a chat with Gordon.”

 

Hearts asked – and were granted – permission to have Sam Nicholson and Jordan McGhee released so they can play against Falkirk on Saturday. Scotland U21s have a game against Switzerland three days later, the same day the senior national side face England at Celtic Park.

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/rangers-may-ask-for-macleod-to-leave-scotland-duty-1-3599089