It is a whopping 20 years since Scotland’s U19 side last qualified for the U19 European Championships. But a Chelsea teenager is planning on ending that dismal run this time around.

The international break is firmly underway, with Chelsea boasting 31 players on international duty this week. A mixture of internationals from senior to youth, from Morgan Rogers to Chizaram Ezenwata.

Rogers and England will face Croatia on Thursday night, but it was 18-year-old Alfie Osborne who was first in action during the break as Scotland’s U19 side face three games in their Euro qualifying campaign.

Alfie Osborne captains Scotland to crucial European win

It was 2006, the last time Scotland’s U19s qualified for the finals. Archie Gemmill took the U19s all the way to the 2006 final but eventually lost to Spain. A Spain side that included a certain Chelsea icon, Juan Mata.

Scotland’s U19s have not qualified for the finals since losing 2-1 to a Spanish side including Mata and Gerard Pique. But on Wednesday, they took a big step closer to doing so, beating Kazakhstan.

It was Osborne’s 11th cap for Scotland’s U19 side, seven of which he has worn the captain’s armband. The teenage talent is impressing both at club and country level, having joined Chelsea in the summer.

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Chelsea completed the signing of Osborne from Hearts in the summer, with scout reports providing a glowing report to the club’s youth development and U21 manager, Harry Hudson. He’s impressed since.

Chelsea beat Barcelona to nab Osborne’s signature. The teen was made to wait for his debut, remaining an unused sub in CNG’s first three games against Bournemouth U21s, Bristol Rovers and West Ham U21s.

However, he would come into the side during CNG’s excellent 4-1 win over Arsenal’s second string, and start eight games in a row in all competitions. That was alongside three 90-minute outings for Scotland.

Now, Osborne will be looking to make it two from two on Saturday when Scotland’s 19s go up against Kosovo at Hamilton’s ground. The Chelsea defender will be expected to lead his country out once again.