Young players coming through

[Burj_Alba]

Read this article in the Scotsman, almost like Sycosse on steroids.

Here are 18 of the best Scottish teenage talents to watch in 2026 - from 'next Billy Gilmour' to Cole Palmer regen

Reading this article, it looks like we are in good shape going forward but how many of them will actually make it?. 

Hate it when they are described as the next.............

Only ones I can see who have played any first team football are Tod, Wilson, Forsyth and maybe Finlay Curtis.

Anyway, here's hoping.

 

Here are 18 of the best Scottish teenage talents to watch in 2026 - from 'next Billy Gilmour' to Cole Palmer regen

 

 

[noctonjock]

3 hours ago, Burj_Alba said:

Read this article in the Scotsman, almost like Sycosse on steroids.

Here are 18 of the best Scottish teenage talents to watch in 2026 - from 'next Billy Gilmour' to Cole Palmer regen

Reading this article, it looks like we are in good shape going forward but how many of them will actually make it?. 

Hate it when they are described as the next.............

Only ones I can see who have played any first team football are Tod, Wilson, Forsyth and maybe Finlay Curtis.

Anyway, here's hoping.

 

Here are 18 of the best Scottish teenage talents to watch in 2026 - from 'next Billy Gilmour' to Cole Palmer regen

 

 

Sam Chambers has played in Leeds first team in a couple of games .

 I've actually seen him play and is quite decent . Very highly rated at Leeds 

[Burj_Alba]

Good to hear, saw him on the bench a few times. 

Talking about Leeds, the article does not mention the Gray brothers or even the Fletcher brothers.

[Caledonian Craig]

21 minutes ago, Burj_Alba said:

Good to hear, saw him on the bench a few times. 

Talking about Leeds, the article does not mention the Gray brothers or even the Fletcher brothers.

A Gray brother and a Fletcher brother as two of them have opted for England.

[vanderark14]

I think we going to go through and transitional period after the next Euros. Our big 4 of Robertson, Mctom, Mcginn, Tierney,will either be getting on or retired. 

Right now there is nobody out there who will replace them so hopefully there are some bloody good youngsters on their way

Edited January 24 by vanderark14

[syecosse]

If i had a keeper i would have Rory Mahady maybe Rydn Mcguire, Bournemouth have had a couple of other young keepers involved with the first team lately and signed another keeper, but nothing really lately on MCKenna which is worrying.

Daniel Armer at Man U is another after Hamill would possibly have him as next best CB prospect. 

[Scots_Wha_Hae]

The problem is we have never really struggled for youth prospects in the 16-18 year old age bracket - we have struggled badly to turn many of our great young players into senior players though. My view is that is mostly due to a lack of opportunity at first team level at the right time - given the quality of our league the majority of these players should be getting started on that challenge at 16 or 17 years old.

Unfortunately I could have put a very similar list to this together last year or any year for the last decade really going all the way back to Robbie Foy (remember him?!). Very little has come of all these promising players. I hope it starts to change but I am pretty cynical that it will. There are a decent number of Scotland U16 caps from 2024 and 2025 now out on loan through the partnership agreements so fingers crossed that will help. Guys like Cole Burke (Chris' son), Lewis Carrol and Euan Glasgow (Kyle's older brother) are all getting gametime in League 1 and 2 .

I would also point out that that list missed some of the top talents, at least in my view. Caelan Cadamarteri at Man City, Olly Goodbrand at Newcastle, Emilio Lawrence from City and of course Rory Wilson. 
 

[theabsentee]

24 minutes ago, Scots_Wha_Hae said:

The problem is we have never really struggled for youth prospects in the 16-18 year old age bracket - we have struggled badly to turn many of our great young players into senior players though. My view is that is mostly due to a lack of opportunity at first team level at the right time - given the quality of our league the majority of these players should be getting started on that challenge at 16 or 17 years old.

Unfortunately I could have put a very similar list to this together last year or any year for the last decade really going all the way back to Robbie Foy (remember him?!). Very little has come of all these promising players. I hope it starts to change but I am pretty cynical that it will. There are a decent number of Scotland U16 caps from 2024 and 2025 now out on loan through the partnership agreements so fingers crossed that will help. Guys like Cole Burke (Chris' son), Lewis Carrol and Euan Glasgow (Kyle's older brother) are all getting gametime in League 1 and 2 .

I would also point out that that list missed some of the top talents, at least in my view. Caelan Cadamarteri at Man City, Olly Goodbrand at Newcastle, Emilio Lawrence from City and of course Rory Wilson. 
 

Yes, a good list, but a good few could be added like you have. I used to agree with the lack of first team opportunities stopping them developing being the main reason, but I'm not convinced any more. I think it's more likely down to many of them lacking one or more of the other key factors in being a top professional footballer. 

  From that list of 18, which is quite elite with many already having first team experience, I think there's a good chance 6/7 will make it to our senior side. The same amount will make it as decent professionals but unfortunately there will always be that few that will drift out of the game by their early 20's .

[syecosse]

2 hours ago, Scots_Wha_Hae said:

The problem is we have never really struggled for youth prospects in the 16-18 year old age bracket - we have struggled badly to turn many of our great young players into senior players though. My view is that is mostly due to a lack of opportunity at first team level at the right time - given the quality of our league the majority of these players should be getting started on that challenge at 16 or 17 years old.

Unfortunately I could have put a very similar list to this together last year or any year for the last decade really going all the way back to Robbie Foy (remember him?!). Very little has come of all these promising players. I hope it starts to change but I am pretty cynical that it will. There are a decent number of Scotland U16 caps from 2024 and 2025 now out on loan through the partnership agreements so fingers crossed that will help. Guys like Cole Burke (Chris' son), Lewis Carrol and Euan Glasgow (Kyle's older brother) are all getting gametime in League 1 and 2 .

I would also point out that that list missed some of the top talents, at least in my view. Caelan Cadamarteri at Man City, Olly Goodbrand at Newcastle, Emilio Lawrence from City and of course Rory Wilson. 
 

Could probably do a top 50 i mean no Ryan One on the list. 

[GHfaeGTA]

4 hours ago, syecosse said:

Could probably do a top 50 i mean no Ryan One on the list. 

No Sam Cleall-Harding either. 19 year old CB who has started and played very well recently for DUFC. Owen Stirton too has promise. 18 year old striker who has also been starting recently 

[noctonjock]

10 hours ago, Burj_Alba said:

Good to hear, saw him on the bench a few times. 

Talking about Leeds, the article does not mention the Gray brothers or even the Fletcher brothers.

Harry Gray is a possibility for Scotland.  Archie ( now at Spurs) I think has opted for England. 

 The same with the Fletcher brothers I feel we'll have one and they will get one if obviously they make it

 

[broraboy]

I see Tom McIntyre is now at Aberdeen, it doesn’t seem that long ago he was at Reading and touted for future Reading Captaincy! 
And I’m now seeing he is 27 😳 so doesn’t fall into the young players coming through but 

A regular with the Scotland under age groups but like many others he has lost his way, I genuinely thought he’d have kicked on and be a regular for the Dark Blue 

The same could be said for Ibane Bowat and Liam Morrison (coincidentally also at Aberdeen) both showed promise with the U21’s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

 

[csinclair]

I think Bowat has been unlucky in losing a full year to injury when he signed for Portsmouth and now he’s down the pecking order there.

Last summer the manager wouldn’t let him go out on loan and now he seems to only pick him here and there

[broraboy]

1 minute ago, csinclair said:

I think Bowat has been unlucky in losing a full year to injury when he signed for Portsmouth and now he’s down the pecking order there.

Last summer the manager wouldn’t let him go out on loan and now he seems to only pick him here and there

Did realise the injury, maybe needs a move from Portsmouth then ?? 
I’m sure Bowat was one of the youngsters to be taken to a Scotland training camp and well thought of, Conway also being one of them I’m sure……

[syecosse]

Just seen Barry Hepburn freed by Bayern and joined a 4th division Aussie side that is a massive drop. 

[Scots_Wha_Hae]

On 2/10/2026 at 5:52 PM, syecosse said:

Just seen Barry Hepburn freed by Bayern and joined a 4th division Aussie side that is a massive drop. 

Given he was shite for Queen’s Park I don’t think this is a massive shock.

[mccaughey85]

On 2/10/2026 at 5:52 PM, syecosse said:

Just seen Barry Hepburn freed by Bayern and joined a 4th division Aussie side that is a massive drop. 

I would hazard a guess that will be semi pro level. 

[ThistleWhistle]

22 hours ago, mccaughey85 said:

I would hazard a guess that will be semi pro level. 

Got yapping to a bloke on holiday a year or two back and I mentioned Barry Hepburn- ended up being his dad!

Basically said he was on £4k a week so it was a no-brainer.  However, he couldn’t move permanently without taking a big cut in wages so was essentially choosing to see it out as might be biggest contract of his career.  
 

Must be loads of kids who’ve sacrificed development for financial security.  Wouldn’t be surprised if with the money he’s made he’s set himself up in Australia working and the football is secondary income.  
 

Probably a case study in how mental the whole system is.  If someone offered me £800 a week at Dundee United at 17 with chance of first team football or £4k a week for 4 years in a system likely to chew me up and spit me out I’d take the latter.  
 

Shows too something in the character of Morrison leaving before his contract was up to join QPR- hopefully he has a chance of kicking on as he looked miles ahead at youth level 

[mccaughey85]

1 minute ago, ThistleWhistle said:

Got yapping to a bloke on holiday a year or two back and I mentioned Barry Hepburn- ended up being his dad!

Basically said he was on £4k a week so it was a no-brainer.  However, he couldn’t move permanently without taking a big cut in wages so was essentially choosing to see it out as might be biggest contract of his career.  
 

Must be loads of kids who’ve sacrificed development for financial security.  Wouldn’t be surprised if with the money he’s made he’s set himself up in Australia working and the football is secondary income.  
 

Probably a case study in how mental the whole system is.  If someone offered me £800 a week at Dundee United at 17 with chance of first team football or £4k a week for 4 years in a system likely to chew me up and spit me out I’d take the latter.  
 

Shows too something in the character of Morrison leaving before his contract was up to join QPR- hopefully he has a chance of kicking on as he looked miles ahead at youth level 

I would take the latter as well, especially at the age of 17. 

I think the Morrison situation is different as QPR were probably offering decent wages.

[syecosse]

54 minutes ago, ThistleWhistle said:

Got yapping to a bloke on holiday a year or two back and I mentioned Barry Hepburn- ended up being his dad!

Basically said he was on £4k a week so it was a no-brainer.  However, he couldn’t move permanently without taking a big cut in wages so was essentially choosing to see it out as might be biggest contract of his career.  
 

Must be loads of kids who’ve sacrificed development for financial security.  Wouldn’t be surprised if with the money he’s made he’s set himself up in Australia working and the football is secondary income.  
 

Probably a case study in how mental the whole system is.  If someone offered me £800 a week at Dundee United at 17 with chance of first team football or £4k a week for 4 years in a system likely to chew me up and spit me out I’d take the latter.  
 

Shows too something in the character of Morrison leaving before his contract was up to join QPR- hopefully he has a chance of kicking on as he looked miles ahead at youth level 

As well as Money i was reading a youth coach the other day talking about the problems in keeping kids in Scotland and although the chance of first team is a big one, he said when they reach the u19s stage i think i read they only have 16 league games and 1 cup which is not enough competitive football especially if they go down south for Money, facilities, Coaching and more competitive footy, also he talked about the latest loan scheme although great for gametime it now has a knock on effect of them being avaialable for for the main teams or cup tied( although he acknowledged that hopefully this has a long term benefit). 

[ThistleWhistle]

1 hour ago, mccaughey85 said:

I would take the latter as well, especially at the age of 17. 

I think the Morrison situation is different as QPR were probably offering decent wages.

Yeah agree with that and he’d also have the security of a similar contract well into his 20s

For Hepburn he’s probably earned not far off £1m.  If you’re likely to be at the top of the game it’s probably easier to stay hungry.  However at that age if you realise you’re on for a journeyman career at best whilst simultaneously earning a shit load of dosh it must be difficult to stay motivated.

The first series of the Wrexham documentary showed they were on £50k to £100k a year but single year deals - sounds pretty crap really.  In comparison money in the bank, normal job in Australia possibly and getting beer tokens for playing relatively stress free football sounds a dream in comparison 

[mccaughey85]

7 minutes ago, ThistleWhistle said:

Yeah agree with that and he’d also have the security of a similar contract well into his 20s

For Hepburn he’s probably earned not far off £1m.  If you’re likely to be at the top of the game it’s probably easier to stay hungry.  However at that age if you realise you’re on for a journeyman career at best whilst simultaneously earning a shit load of dosh it must be difficult to stay motivated.

The first series of the Wrexham documentary showed they were on £50k to £100k a year but single year deals - sounds pretty crap really.  In comparison money in the bank, normal job in Australia possibly and getting beer tokens for playing relatively stress free football sounds a dream in comparison 

How much would have saved from that 1m though? If he's getting 4k a week then that's 200k a year before taxes. Then he has living expenses etc.

I think he would be lucky to have saved 200k over his time at Bayern. Not a bad amount of money but it won't set him up for life. 

[ThistleWhistle]

18 minutes ago, syecosse said:

As well as Money i was reading a youth coach the other day talking about the problems in keeping kids in Scotland and although the chance of first team is a big one, he said when they reach the u19s stage i think i read they only have 16 league games and 1 cup which is not enough competitive football especially if they go down south for Money, facilities, Coaching and more competitive footy, also he talked about the latest loan scheme although great for gametime it now has a knock on effect of them being avaialable for for the main teams or cup tied( although he acknowledged that hopefully this has a long term benefit). 

The loaning of academy players down south is really weird - Stoke took a Man City striker who will never make it at their parent club in a million years.  He’s struggled so essentially we’re developing him so Man City can sell him to someone else.  At the same time we’ve loaned out two of our prospects who would benefit more from the time this lads get and may turn into players we can rely on or sell for decent money.

The other thing I always wonder is academies are probably better for development than developing via a local provincial club but at some point that must do a 180.  For argument sake are you better playing 10-20 games for Port Vale or Crewe at 19 or playing for a tier 1 academy?  

[Third Lanark]

But...but...are any of them wingers? We used to produce them by the bucket load.

[ThistleWhistle]

23 minutes ago, mccaughey85 said:

How much would have saved from that 1m though? If he's getting 4k a week then that's 200k a year before taxes. Then he has living expenses etc.

I think he would be lucky to have saved 200k over his time at Bayern. Not a bad amount of money but it won't set him up for life. 

Oh defo he’s not retiring off of it but even at 21-22 possibly having no mortgage or at least a substantial deposit must be a game changer.  
 

Must be difficult to square mentally though coming out of that environment you’ve always been in and deciding what do next especially when you’ve likely already had your biggest contract by a mile.  

 

Edited February 13 by ThistleWhistle