Laszlo says Scottish youth talent is thin on the ground

Scottish football must overhaul its youth system or risk years in the international doldrums, according to Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo.

And Laszlo thinks Scotland could suffer the same decline he has seen elsewhere.

"I've seen many reserve and youth games and you must change," he said. "You must do something within five years.

"If you don't, you will have the same as in Austria and Hungary. I saw what they have done in Germany, where youth academies are producing good players."

Laszlo thinks that declining standards not only affect the international side but clubs like his own.

"Scottish football at the moment does not have the same respect as it had five or six years ago," he said.

I don't want to go to sign players and they say 'oh, you are from Scotland, I have another team that is more important in for me' Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo

"In the last 10 years, you have not qualified for major international finals, while only one club, Rangers, has reached the Uefa Cup final.

"I don't want to go to sign players and they say 'oh, you are from Scotland, I have another team that is more important in for me'.

"And I don't want to call German teams and they don't want to play us in a friendly game."

Despite forgetting Celtic's run to the Uefa Cup final in 2003 and his concerns for youth football in general, Laszlo has high hopes for Hearts' latest crop.

"Definitely Lee Wallace for me, together with Andrew Driver, has had a very good development," said the Hearts manager.

"Eggart Jonsson in the last few games has not been in the first 11, but he has played well in many positions for us and been in the Iceland national team.

"We also have promising players like Gary Glen and Calum Elliot, who isn't as young but who is not old either."

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