Scotland Under-21 boss singles out Rangers and Hearts 'leaders' and gives verdict on senior squad recall

Docherty watched his side respond to their pre-match disappointment of discovering they were mathematically unable to qualify for next summer’s Under-21 European Championships by blowing away their opponents at Rugby Park thanks to a Barney Stewart brace, coupled with strikes from James Wilson, Tyler Fletcher and Bobby Wales.

In his first match in charge of Scotland’s next generation, the former Dundee and Ross County boss was able to call on full Scotland internationals Wilson and Findlay Curtis, who recorded four assists, after they were allowed to join the Under-21 set-up by Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli last week, and Docherty was delighted with their attitudes towards the game.

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“I challenged the players before the game to try and create an identity of the Under 21s group and I think they did that,” said Docherty. “They did brilliantly. I came back with those two, with James and Findlay and we created a wee leadership group, and they’ve been instrumental. The attitude and the togetherness of the squad, along with Fletch [Tyler Fletcher] has been brilliant. There are others that I’d put in that as well. They deserve huge credit, because the easiest thing could have been to be a bit petulant, that sort of thing.

“They’ve done themselves massive favours. Alan Irvine [Scotland assistant] was here tonight and he’s seen the level of the performance. But, as a coach, you don’t just see the level of performance, you look at the attitude and the mentality towards it. There’s has been exemplary.

“Curtis was outstanding and there were so many really strong performances with Tyler Fletcher great in the middle of the park too. Their attitude was great and we have a leadership group now. I am really pleased for the players because it's important they got their reward. We were dominant and had a setback, but the response was brilliant. We knew we were out before it [the game], but I said to the players who are at the end of their journey, they have a responsibility to make sure we end the campaign on a high and try to get into Pot Three which we can do with a win in Bulgaria.”

Asked if Curtis or Wilson could return to the senior squad for the Nations League game with North Macedonia on Saturday, Docherty added: “Possibly. I’ll speak with Sebastien [Pocognoli] tomorrow in the morning. But Alan Irvine was here watching the game with Chris Woods, and they’ll have seen a strong performance. Not just that, they have seen these lads display a brilliant attitude.”