Scotland Under-21 coach gives update on 'vomiting'…

Scotland Under-21 coach gives update on 'vomiting' Hearts player after 'hellish' trip

Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill has expressed confidence that Hearts goalkeeper Liam McFarlane can make a quick recovery from the head injury which he suffered against the Czech Republic last week.

The 6ft 5in player, who the Tynecastle club have recalled from his loan spell at League 1 side Alloa Athletic, has been forced to pull out of the national age-group squad and will miss the European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Portugal tomorrow night.

Gemmill confirmed the 20-year-old had endured a horrendous trip back from the Group B game in Uherske Hradiste and had been told he wouldn’t be involved at Fir Park by medical staff. However, he is optimistic the player will not be sidelined long-term.

“Liam went home straight away obviously,” he said. “He had a really difficult journey home because of his concussion. It didn't count as a as a concussion substitution as per the UEFA ruling. But our doctor, our medical team, knew he was in danger of being concussed and he went on to be diagnosed as concussed.

“He had a hellish trip home. He was vomiting and the like. Nobody likes to travel in that condition. But I hope he’ll back soon. It's just a really bad impact injury. The medics are confident that he hasn't actually broken his nose. I think he's just banged up. I think he'll heal quickly and I really hope so.”

(Image: Vlastimil Vacek - SNS Group) Meanwhile, Gemmill has expressed hope that Scotland Under-21 striker James Wilson won’t allow himself to become downhearted by his lack of first team game time at Hearts and stressed the 18-year-old, who became the youngest player to represent his country last season, needs to keep on fighting for a start on Gorgie.

“When you're in that part of your career, you haven't got any guarantees,” he said. “But what's important is how you handle it.

“He obviously would have loved being in the team and racking up minutes. But from what I know of him being with us in the last couple of camps, he's got the intelligence and the personality to be able to deal with it and understand why he's currently not in the team.

“He has to keep working hard and developing. He's a very grounded young player and he'll have a really good understanding of the situation he’s in and the club he's at as well as the expectation of the club and the job that the management and the head coach are trying to do.”

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