Aberdeen defender Clark Robertson is confident the Scotland under-21s can force themselves back into contention for European championship qualification in the double-header against Slovakia and Georgia.
The 20-year-old left-sided player is set to win his eighth cap against Slovakia at St Mirren Park tomorrow night and is sure the Scots can bounce back from a 4-0 pummelling by Holland last month.
Billy Stark’s team travel to face Georgia in Tbilisi on Monday night and Robertson will use his Dons experience to encourage his younger team-mates.
He said: “I am one of the more experienced players in the squad. We have a few 17 and 18-year-olds in there.
“It is a young squad but the more experienced ones have to take control of the group and lead by example.
“I played against Holland and it was never a 4-0 game. We had three or four chances in the first half which we didn’t take.
“The final score flattered them and it was a bit disappointing.
“We have three points out of six having played the toughest game in the group away from home against Holland.
“We now have two must win games if we are going to qualify.
“All the players are confident and we will take that into the game on Thursday and, hopefully, get three points.”
Celtic forward Tony Watt, who is on loan at Belgian side Lierse, has been left out the squad and Wolves attacker Leigh Griffiths is too old but Roberston has no doubt Scotland have the firepower to trouble Slovakia and Georgia.
He said: “(Former Aberdeen winger) Ryan Fraser is playing week in, week out in the English Championship for Bournemouth and has scored two goals in three games and is flying just now.
“At the time he went down there some people thought he was making the wrong move.
“He had an injury when he went down there and did not play for the first six months.
“He has hit the ground running this season and it has been a good move for him to play to top level football.
“I played with Callum McGregor in the Scotland under-19 squad, he is on loan at Notts County from Celtic, and he is another talent as well.
“We lost Tony Watt but Stevie May has come in and he has been on fire this season at St Johnstone.
“We do have strength in depth in the squad, everyone is playing first-team football which can only be a good thing for the national team.
“Slovakia have won both of their games in the group and will come here in confident mood.
“I am sure if we play to the best of our ability the two games will take care of themselves and, hopefully, we can take six points.”