Morrow the future for North

Sam Morrow was tipped for a bright future tonight after marking his debut for Northern Ireland U21s with the winner against Scotland in a friendly at the Oval.

The Hibs striker replaced his club colleague Dean Shiels in the 56th minute and three minutes later found the target when he swept home a cross from Chris Brunt.

Manager Roy Millar said of Morrow after the 2-1 victory: “It was a well taken goal and he is an outstanding prospect.”

Shiels, who like Morrow is highly-rated, was taken off early following an agreement with his club.

The two lads stretched the Scots and they have not won in 11 matches after this latest setback.

However, the visitors went ahead through Celtic striker Shaun Maloney in only his third game following a cruciate knee ligament injury.

It came at the end of good spell of pressure in which Darryl Duffy twice went close.

But Northern Ireland came back and Brunt rattled home a superb free-kick before Morrow’s vital strike.

Millar was delighted at the response of his team after a six-month break.

“We started well, then faded and got punished,” he said.

“But the second half was much better and defensively we were sound.

“Overall I thought we were the better side and the result augurs well for the future. I have a good squad of players.”