SCOTLAND last night made novel use of the Auld Alliance when they called up 18-year-old French-born Sunderland striker Mikael Mandron to their Under-20 squad.
Mandron, a 6ft 4in striker who came through the celebrated Clairefontaine Academy near Paris where Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka carved out their reputations, made his first-team debut for Sunderland in their recent 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Although he was born and raised in France, speaks French as his first language, and came through the ranks at lower-league Boulogne, he qualifies for Scotland via a grandparent from Aberdeen and will represent Billy Stark's Under-20 side at the ADO Den Haag tournament later this month, subject to international clearance.
"I am not an authority on him, but he has been around about the first team for a while," Stark told Herald Sport. "Ricky [Sbragia] saw him a couple of times and thinks there is a good bit of potential there."
Elsewhere in the squad for a tournament which pits the young Scots in a series of 50-minute matches against club sides Cruzeiro, Club Brugge and FK Senica of Slovakia, there is change of allegiance for the Manchester United midfielder Lee Hendrie, the son of former Middlesbrough striker John, also subject to clearance being received.
Hendrie Jr represented England at Under-17 level but has clearly had a Stuart McCall-style change of heart.
"He is definitely keen to come to Scotland but in a situation like that you have to explain to them that there are no guarantees, once you make the change," Stark said.
Hibernian wingers Daniel Handling and Alex Harris, both of whom could feature in the William Hill Scottish Cup final at Hampden on May 26, are also included.
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