Ryan One excited for the chance to represent Scotland Under-21s

The 18-year-old – son of former Scottish lower-league striker Armand One – has been included in Scott Gemmill’s squad for the first time ahead of the critical Euro 2025 qualification double-header against Belgium at Tynecastle Park on Friday and away to Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

One joined the Blades from Hamilton in the summer of 2023 and got a taste of England’s top flight when he was sent on for his debut as a late substitute in a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal last October.

He eventually was given his second senior appearance for United in a League Cup win over Wrexham in August and is now eager to make his Scotland U21 bow after stepping up from the Under-19 squad.

“It was crazy to make my debut at the Emirates Stadium, I didn’t expect it to be honest,” he told the Scottish Football Association website. 

“We were getting beat quite heavily so I thought ‘just try not to be nervous and try to make some sort of impact’.

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“It would be a brilliant moment for me to make my Under-21 debut as well. I’ve played against Belgium at Under-19 level and this Belgium team will be even better.

“But we have lots of quality in this squad too, and hopefully we can play well and secure the result we need which will help us qualify.”

Scotland are vying with Friday’s opponents Belgium to secure second place in Group B behind section winners Spain as they bid to make it to their first tournament since 1996.

The three best runners-up in the nine groups will qualify automatically for the tournament in Slovakia next year, while the other six will be involved in two-legged play-offs next month.

Scotland and Belgium go into Friday’s showdown level on the 16-point mark but the Scots have the head-to-head advantage after winning 2-0 in Roeselare last November.

Gemmill’s side are also buoyed by the availability of Josh Doig, Connor Barron and Max Johnston after the key trio were in the full Scotland squad last month. 

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One is delighted to have been called up for such a crucial double-header. 

“I didn’t expect it at all because I’d been selected for the Under-19s but it was a great feeling,” he said.

“The standard in training has been really good but that’s what you’d expect with so many of these players playing first-team football. I’ve just tried to keep up with it but I think I’ve done well.”