Why Scotland 21s boss Tony Docherty has sent four players home ahead of Bulgaria game

Scotland under-21s manager Tony Docherty has released four players from the squad ahead of their final European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria. Jeremiah Mullen, Dire Mebude, Emilio Lawrence, and Ben McPherson have returned to their respective clubs because Scotland cannot qualify for the tournament, allowing Docherty to prioritize younger players eligible for future campaigns.

Docherty explained that the dead rubber against Bulgaria remains crucial for seeding, as securing at least a draw would ensure a place in pot three for the next qualification draw. The manager also noted that new senior national team manager Sebastien Pocognoli was encouraged by the squad's performance following their previous victory over Azerbaijan.