Scotland’s Under 21s cruised to a 5-0 victory in Malta on Tuesday night to keep their European Championship qualification hopes firmly on track.
A goal and two assists marked a dream competitive debut for Motherwell’s Lennon Miller, with Dane Murray, Josh Mulligan and Lewis Neilson also on the scoresheet.
It was a first Scotland call-up for Miller’s club teammate Ewan Wilson, who helped force an own goal inside two minutes.
A hamstring blow to Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie was the only downside to the night, with the £600,000 summer signing limping off in the first half.
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Scot Gemmill’s side were two goals up inside the opening nine minutes after an early own goal and a header from Dane Murray from Miller’s free kick, before Dundee’s Josh Mulligan made it three in 16 minutes.
With a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead, the young Scots made it four in the 56th minute when Miller headed in Daniel Kelly’s cross and Lewis Neilson bundled home the fifth in the 82nd minute with another assist from Miller.
Tuesday night’s emphatic victory sets up a crunch home tie with Belgium in October, with both sides level on 16 points in the race to finish second behind group winners Spain.
The three best runners-up will qualify automatically for next year’s European Championships in Slovakia, with Scot Gemmill’s side travelling to Kazakhstan in their final game.
