Dougie Freedman insists new Scotland call-up Oliver Burke has huge potential after watching the winger flourish at Nottingham Forest.
Burke featured regularly under manager Freedman at the City Ground before the one-time Scotland forward lost his job at the weekend.
Freedman was thrilled to see national team boss Gordon Strachan name the 18-year-old in his squad for the March 29 visit of Denmark and insists the call-up is well deserved.
Freedman said: “He has huge potential. He has an attitude that he will work hard, no matter what – and that makes me proud.
“I am very pleased for him, because he is a young man who has been working very hard on his game.
“He proves that, if you work hard, you can get somewhere.
“As a Scotsman, I am very proud to see him get this call up.
“It means a lot to me as when I walked through the door, I could see that there was potential there.
“We have worked with him over the past year and it has taken some time, because he is not a naturally gifted sort of player.”
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Freedman added: “He has all the physical attributes. He is strong, he is quick and he has got better through hard work. He is dedicated and it getting his rewards.
“Let’s not get too excited because Gordon Strachan is giving him a taste of things for now.
“If he is drip-fed into the side, Scotland will have a very good player on their hands.
“He has shown that he is one of the best young players in the Championship.”
