The Watchlist
The Watchlist is Football From Afar’s curated list of overseas Scottish players. Below you will find details about the players, their respective clubs and leagues as well as a short update on each individual and their current progress and prospects. The is a living page that will be updated twice per season; players will be added and removed if necessary. The Watchlist is not a comprehensive list of Scottish players abroad.
UPDATED OCT. 15, 2020 by Byron Hutchison
Ryan Gauld (24)
S.C Farense•Liga NOS•Portugal•🇵🇹
SC Farense and Ryan Gauld have a big season ahead. The 2020/21 campaign marks the club’s return to the Portuguese top-flight after an 18 year absence while Gauld will be playing Primeira Liga football for the first time since 2018. The attacking midfielder was the driving force behind Farense’s promotion; contributing to a goal at a rate of 0.40 per 90. He excelled on the field while establishing himself as a leader in the dressing room, donning the captain’s armband on several occasions. If Gauld can replicate last season’s form against the likes of FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting this season, Steve Clarke may find it hard to ignore the one-time-wonderkid for much longer.
Fraser Hornby (21)
Stade De Reims•Ligue 1•France•🇫🇷
Fraser Hornby joined Stade de Reims in one of the most interesting moves of the summer, from our perspective at least. The rangy forward, having been highly touted as a youngster, opted to switch the Premier League for Ligue 1 with his contract at Everton winding down. Hornby has joined an enterprising club in Reims who have their sets on a third consecutive top-eight finish this season. He faces stiff competition for places in the Reims’ attacking line, however, with at least five other forwards eying up a central spot in the starting line-up. The 21-year-old will have to be patient and make the most of his likely limited minutes as and when they come.
Aaron Hickey (18)
Bologna F.C•Serie A•Italy•🇮🇹
Former Hearts youngster Aaron Hickey is arguably the most exciting player on our list this season. Hickey opted to join Serie A outfit Bologna despite confirmed interest from European Champions Bayern Munich, with the potential for first-team opportunities in Italy apparently at the crux of his decision. Hickey had barely touched down in Emilia-Romagna before seeing first-team action and if he can continue to show the promise he did on his impressive Serie A debut, he may well find himself starting on a regular basis this season.
David Bates (24)
Cercle Brugge•Pro Leauge•Belgium•🇧🇪
After an auspicious start to life on the continent David Bates has found himself out of favour at floundering German giants Hamburg for the second season running. Things are looking up for the ‘Ginger Ramos’ however. The 24-year-old has secured a loan move to Belgian side Cercle Brugge and will be looking to recapture the form that saw him earn four Scotland caps in 2018/19. Bates should have ample opportunity to secure some all-important game time and will benefit from working under former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich assistant Paul Clement.
Liam Henderson (24)
U.S Lecce•Serie B•Italy•🇮🇹
Liam Henderson has dropped back down to Serie B with relegated U.S Lecce, moving on a four-year-deal from Hellas Verona this summer - whom he helped gain promotion in 2019. The good news is that Lecce, under the command of former Juventus midfielder Eugenio Corini, have their sights set on an immediate return to Serie A. Henderson enters the season with over 50 Serie B appearances to his name already and for my money has proven to be a class above. The Scotsman will play a pivotal role in the Lecce’s promotion push this season.
Jack Hendry (25)
K.V Oostende•Pro Leauge•Belgium•🇧🇪
Remarkably, Jack Hendry is already 25-years-old. The fact he had less than 60 total league games under his belt going into the new campaign is even more remarkable. The towering defender requires a career kickstart and the hope is that a loan move (which includes an option-to-buy) to the Belgian costal town of Oostende can provide it. Hendry has made an excellent start to life in Belgium, scoring a late-winner on his debut and cementing himself as a mainstay at the heart of Oostende’s back three for the season ahead.
George Johnston (22)
Feyenoord•Eredivisie•Netherlands•🇳🇱
After a spending a full campaign on the bench last season, 22-year-old George Johnston will finally have an opportunity to make an impact for Feyenoord this season. The Rotterdam club have entered the 2020/21 campaign with Europa League football to look forward to but a severe lack of defensive depth to contend with. Liverpool academy product, Johnston, is primarily a centre-back but played at left-back in several preseason fixtures and his versatility will no doubt come in handy for manager Dick Advocaat as his side challenge for the Eredivisie title.
Lewis Morgan (24)
Inter Miami•MLS•United States•🇺🇸
Lewis Morgan’s switch from Celtic to the David Beckham owned Inter Miami came as a bit of a surprise back in January. It’s hard to imagine the young winger, who can now count Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain among his team-mates, has many regrets. Having traded dreary away days in Dingwall for the sandy shores of South Beach, Morgan has transformed himself in to a fan-favourite during his first year at the club and already looks set to be one of the most valuable players in Major League Soccer this season.
Johnny Russell (30)
Sporting Kansas City•MLS•United States•🇺🇸
Johnny Russell has been seen as a team leader and one of Major League Soccer’s premier attacking players for several seasons now. The Sporting Kansas City man has already claimed 14 Scotland caps, 11 of which have come since his switch stateside and the 30-year-old appears to be as keen as ever to earn a few more. For the first time since Russell’s arrival, Sporting KC have added some real quality to their squad from an attacking perspective and will be hoping to make a serious run in the MLS playoffs at the end of the season.
Lewis Fiorini (18)
NAC Breda•Eerste Divisie•Netherlands•🇳🇱
Man City boy and Scotland u21 international Lewis Fiorini is having his first crack at senior football this season. The 18-year-old has been with City since he was a child and secured a loan move to NAC Breda in the Dutch second-tier for the 2020/21 season. The attack-minded midfielder is a precocious talent and scored his first senior goal after just two substitute appearances in the Netherlands. With Breda shooting for promotion this season, Fiorini may be on the cusp of a breakout campaign if he can force his way into the starting eleven.
Jack Harper (24)
FC Cartagena•Segunda Division•Spain•🇪🇸
Famously a product of the Real Madrid youth academy, Malaga native Jack Harper is now on the books at LaLiga overachievers Getafe. Signed to a 5-year-deal, the long term plan for Harper involved spending last season on loan before being integrated into the squad this summer. With a reoccurring ankle injury keeping him sidelined for the majority of last season, however, Harper has again been loaned. Landing at Spanish second-tier side FC Cartagena this time around. At 24-years-old, Harper faces what may be a career-defining season.
Jack Elliott (25)
Philadelphia Union•MLS•United States•🇺🇸
The first of our “players that are eligible for Scotland that you might not know about” is 25-year-old Jack Elliott of the Philadelphia Union. Born in London, Elliott qualifies for Scotland thanks to his Glaswegian parents. Although the 6’5” ball-playing central defender made his 100th appearance for the Union earlier this season, his spot in their defence isn’t guaranteed. With the club aiming for the title, they harbour one of the best back-lines in the league and Elliott will face competition for minutes from former Norway u21 international Jakob Glesnes and reported Celtic target, Mark McKenzie.
Veron Parkes (19)
FC DOrdrecht•Eerste Divisie•Netherlands•🇳🇱
Another name that may be unfamiliar to Scotland fans is that of former West Ham United youngster, Veron Parkes. The forward enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with West Ham’s u18 and u23 sides last term; scoring 13 and assisting six in just 19 games. After turning down a contract at the London Stadium the 19-year-old, who is eligible for multiple nations but uncapped at any level, was reportedly a target for Celtic and Monaco this summer before Eredivisie club Fortuna Sittard secured his signature. Parkes has since been loaned to FC Dordrecht of the Eerste divisie, where he will look to break through at senior level.
Tony Gallacher (21)
Toronto FC•MLS•United States•🇺🇸
Another Scottish left-back? Why not. After completing his loan move from Liverpool to Toronto FC, Tony Gallacher has joined the FFA ranks. The 21-year-old made his debut back in Falkirk aged 16 and went on to make a further 26 appearances before his switch to Anfield. The former u17 international will now be looking to return to regular first-team action after a prolonged stint with Liverpool’s u23 side. Gallacher has played on both the left and the right in the past and has already seen minutes on each flank this season for a talented Toronto side who are among the favourites to claim the MLS crown.
Frank Ross (22)
Go Ahead Eagles•Eerste Divisie •Netherlands•🇳🇱
Frank Ross found himself without a club after being released by Aberdeen in the summer. The 22-year-old made his debut in Scotland at just 17 but struggled to break through at the Dons in subsequent years thanks to a series of injuries. Seeking employment, Ross went on trial with Dutch second-tier side Go Ahead Eagles in July and did enough to earn a 2-year-deal with an option for a third. The Eagles are unlikely to challenge for promotion this season but they will offer Ross a solid platform for to kickstart his senior career.
Gary Mackay-Steven (30)
New York City FC•MLS•United States•🇺🇸
Everyone’s favourite FIFA 5-star skiller, Gary Mackay-Steven has been stateside since his switch from Aberdeen last July. Working under former Celtic boss Ronnie Deila at NYCFC, Mackay-Steven has frustratingly found himself as something of a bit-part player. Although it feels like a lifetime ago, GMS was called up to the Scotland squad as recently as 2018 and at just 30-years-old the former Dundee United man may hope to have one last crack at the national team. If that is his hope, however, he’ll first have to earn a regular spot in Deila’s eleven.
Jordan Holsgrove (21)
Celta Vigo B•Segunda Division B•Spain•🇪🇸
Scotland u21 international Jordan Holsgrove enjoyed an excellent campaign last season while on loan from Reading at Spanish third-tier table-toppers Atlético Baleares. After catching the eye in Baleares’ 6-1 demolition of Celta B last season, Holsgrove made a permanent switch to LaLiga outfit Celta Vigo in September. Initially set to join the aforementioned B team, the central midfielder has had assurances from the club that there is a pathway to the first-team and if he can find his form from last season, he shouldn’t have to wait long for his opportunity.
Ewan Urain (20)
Bilbao Athletic•Segunda División B•Spain•🇪🇸
Ewan Roy Urain Aird is another from the Jack Harper school of Spanish-born strikers who are eligible for Scotland. The son of a Scottish mother and Basque father, Urain has been with Athletic Bilbao since 2015. Now 20-years-old, the 6’4” target-man generated interest this summer after being called up to train with the Bilbao first-team. Urain will return to Bilbao Athletic (Bilbao’s reserve side) for his first full season in senior football but may find himself around the first-team if he can impress. Uncapped at any level and proudly Scottish, Urain is an interesting prospect for Scot Gemmill’s u21 side.
Liam Morrison (17)
FC Bayern Munich•Bundesliga•Germany•🇩🇪
Scotland u17 captain Liam Morrison is one of the countries most promising prospects. The central defender spent his first season in Germany with Bayern’s u17 side, having made the switch to Bavaria from Celtic in 2019. After a promising season that was curtailed by a fairly serious injury, the 17-year-old, who has now fully recovered from his 6-month layoff, was promoted to the u19s ahead of the new season. While he may need time to adjust to that slightly higher level, Morrison will have the privilege of working under manager and four-time Bundesliga champion, Martin Demichelis this season.
Anthony McDonald (19)
Córdoba CF•Segunda División B•Spain•🇪🇸
Long time a prospect in Edinburgh, former Heart’s winger Anthony McDonald has made the bold move to Spain. McDonald initially broke into the first-team at Tynecastle as a 16-year-old, where, despite making 16 further appearances, he failed to become a regular fixture. Having spent time on loan in the Scottish Championship twice now, McDonald has opted to move to Cordoba in search of first-team opportunities. Cordoba’s status in the third-tier should be beneficial for McDonald who will find himself playing against the reserve sides from LaLiga club’s such as Sevilla and Cadiz in the coming campaign.