Meet 3 Scotland players destined for Premier League careers

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has given youth a chance with his latest squad – handing call ups to a number of in-form players plying their trade outside of the top flight.

However, Ladbrokes News has earmarked a trio of players in the squad that could soon be making a name for themselves in the Premier League.

Here, James Curtis marks out three young Scots to keep an eye on.

Callum Paterson – Hearts

The 20-year-old Hearts right-back has been drafted into the squad for the first time to replace the injured Phil Bardsley but if he can carry his league form onto the international stage he should be around for a while to come.

Paterson has played eight times for Hearts so far this season, helping to keep a clean sheet in three of his six league appearances thus far, and has already chipped in with two goals.

With Hearts sitting above Rangers as unbeaten Scottish Championship leaders as a result of their solid defence it won’t be long before Paterson is attracting admiring glances from south of the border.

Lewis MacLeod – Rangers

Another 20-year-old being given his first chance by Gordon Strachan but the Scotland manager insists MacLeod is not there to make up the numbers.

A quick glance at the Rangers midfielder’s stats this season reveal while Strachan is so confident in his abilities.

MacLeod has smashed eight goals in 17 games for the Gers this term, including match-winning League Cup strikes against top flight opposition in St Johnstone and Inverness.

Should Rangers progress to the SPFL – as expected – and MacLeod continues to progress at his current rate, a trip south could soon be on the cards.

Stevie May – Sheffield Wednesday

For a striker of just 22 the Owls forward already has bags of experience. He first pricked the consciousness while on loan at Hamilton from St Johnstone, scoring 26 goals during his 35-game spell.

He continued that form when recalled to the Saints, smashing 27 goals in 49 games, and a tally of two in two Europa League games showed he had not lost his touch over the summer.

This prompted Wednesday to make their move and he has taken the trip down south in his stride, hitting three goals in his first seven games in the Championship.

Wednesday are sitting mid-table at present but could still make a run at promotion this year but even if they don’t a glut of goals from May could see the bigger clubs come calling anyway.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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