Scobbie holds Scotland hope

Falkirk's Thomas Scobbie is hopeful of breaking into the Scotland squad under George Burley.

Falkirk defender sets sights on international call-up

Falkirk's Thomas Scobbie is hopeful of breaking into the Scotland squad under George Burley. The versatile defender, who this week agreed a new five-year deal with Falkirk, is already a Scotland Under 21 international. Scobbie has been encouraged by Burley's declaration that he will look to youth for Scotland's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, and believes he can press his claims by continuing his good club form. "You never know with a new Scotland manager coming in," said the 19-year-old. "I hear him talk about Christophe Berra and Steven Fletcher, who are excellent players and are doing fantastic in the SPL every week. "If I can keep working hard and listening to the gaffer (John Hughes), who knows? He might possibly make me a full international. "We've had Alan Gow and Darren Barr in the Scotland B squad and that would be the next step for me. "But I still have another couple of years with the Under 21s and, if I can establish myself and play as many games as possible there, then, hopefully, I would get a chance in the future."

Happy

Scobbie is looking forward to a long career with Falkirk but has not ruled out moving elsewhere in time. He explained: "I'm happy Falkirk have showed the loyalty to hand out a five-year deal because they don't do it too often. "With this deal, I could rack up 250 or 300 games at Falkirk and I'd still just be 23. "If we can establish ourselves as a top-six team over the next five years, that would be a great achievement. "The football being played is what I want, so, if I can do that, maybe a bigger club will come in and I could get a move. But I'm really happy at Falkirk."