Angelo Alessio spends every day in training striving to mould Stuart Findlay in the shape of his greatest success story, Giorgio Chiellini.
Now he reckons his young Kilmarnock stopper is ready for the next stage in his development plan by stepping out on the international stage for Scotland.
The 24-year-old was yesterday drafted into the national squad for the forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and San Marino as a replacement for Liam Cooper, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a groin injury.
It’s the second time Findlay has been called up by his former club boss Steve Clarke, but his previous involvement for the double header against Cyprus and Belgium was restricted to the bench.
Now Alessio hopes his young prodigy - who joins Killie team-mate Stephen O’Donnell in the squad - will be handed the Dark Blue debut he craves.
For it would be another major milestone in his bid to follow in the illustrious footsteps of world class defenders Alessio has worked with, including John Terry at Chelsea and Juventus legend Chiellini.
Alessio said: “I am happy to see Stuart back in the squad, he deserves it.
“I think it’s good not only for him but for the whole club. To have two players in the national team is a proud achievement for Kilmarnock.
“It’s important to play and I think if he gets the opportunity he will do well.
“He is young and he can improve a lot if he keeps working in training and in games. If he gives me his 100 per cent attention I can help him improve and go on to a top club in the future.
“He is good but I want more. He is still young and he can improve.
“The defender I am most proud of (working with) is Chiellini.
“In training and in games he is always ready, he is tough and he is focused on the game every single second.
“He is a brilliant defender, as strong player who marks very tight. He doesn’t leave one centimetre for a striker to breathe.
“I don’t tell Stuart to watch videos of Chiellini. I just tell him to do it!
“I push him in training to get the best out of him. I study him and correct him in some situations so he understands the big picture of the defender and his wider place in the team.
“He has good experience now but we are working with him to understand some situations in games and be ready to read the game, react quickly and in the right way.”
Alessio’s striker injury crisis deepened with the news that Osman Sow faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained in last Saturday’s goalless draw with Ross County.
Although Eamonn Brophy is winning his race against time to be ready for tomorrow’s visit to face Hearts at Tynecastle.
Alessio added: “Hearts are a good team. They have played well in the last couple of weeks and they are physically very strong. We will have to play our best on Saturday.”
