SCOTLAND Under-21 supremo Billy Stark has made moves to try and persuade Hamilton midfield starlet James McCarthy to switch his international allegiance from the Republic Of Ireland to Scotland.

After failing to make the radar of former Scotland youth chief Archie Knox, the 17-year-old decided to opt for the Republic in a mark of respect to his grandfather who hailed from Donegal.

However Stark, who was installed as Under-21 coach and youth supremo late last year, clearly rates the Accies ace very highly.

It is understood he enquired as to whether there was any change in McCarthy's stance following Hamilton's midweek win at Dumbarton on Wednesday night.

Should the unlikely scenario develop where McCarthy decides to switch his loyalties to the country of his birth there would not be a problem. Uefa rules state that any player under 21 can switch his national playing preference once before he turns 21.

However, it is unlikely that Stark's overtures will receive a positive reaction from McCarthy who is known, along with the Accies coaching hierarchy, to have been severely disillusioned by the snub administered to his talents by the previous Scotland youth management.

Yet Stark's persistence and the all-embracing approach he has shown to recognising talent from outwith the SPL and the Old Firm reserves has won him great respect within the SFL.

The former Queen's Park boss has already capped McCarthy's Accies' midfield mate James McArthur at under-21 level and that may well have softened McCarthy's attitude.

Meanwhile, a youthful Accies XI went down 2-0 at East Fife last night.