Promising Scotland youth star given surprise debut for EFL club

WHILE it’s been tough times for the Scotland senior national team, this latest international break gave one of the country’s promising youth stars a chance to impress.

It’s now 15 games without a win for Steve Clarke and co, following a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Zagreb tonight.

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The Scotland Under-21s also lost to Belgium last night, going down 2-0 which all but ends their hopes of qualifying for the Euros.

But for 17-year-old Rocco Friel, it’s been a more positive week.

Friel signed for Queens Park Rangers in the summer after two years in the Hearts academy.

Prior to that he was in the youth ranks at Rangers.

The young defender started the development squad’s 3-2 win over Colchester United on Friday (with fellow Scot Noah McCann also playing) – just a day after he was given a shot with the first team.

The Rs played a closed-doors friendly against Wycombe Wanderers and Friel was given the final ten minutes of the match as a substitute.

The QPR squad on the day featured former Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele, fellow Scotland starlet Harrison Ashby and fan favourite Ilias Chair.

A right-back by trade, Friel is described as an “attack-minded full-back” by the Loftus Road club on their website.

Friel was a regular in the Hearts B team that featured in the Lowland League last season, making 20 appearances and scoring three goals.

He has also broken into the Scotland youth setup at Under-17 and Under-19 level.

Friel said in a post on Instagram after joining the London club in June: “Delighted to have signed for @officialqpr, looking forward to getting started.

“Big thanks to everyone at @heartofmidlothianfc for the last few years, wish everyone at the club all the best.”

Friel left Rangers for Hearts in late 2021 and was the club until this summer, signing his first professional contract with the Tynecastle outfit in December of the following year.

His younger brother Harris has also been part of the Rangers youth system.

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