TEENAGE Ayr goalkeeper Ollie Ecrepont admitted it was a surprise to be named in the Scotland under-19 squad for their trio of friendly matches this week.

The 17-year-old is part of a 24-man squad for the matches against Azerbaijan, the Faroe Islands and the Netherlands at the Pinatar Arena in Spain.

Ecrepont is currently out on loan at East Stirlingshire and says the experience he’s gained at the Lowland League side has played a big part in his call-up to the first squad named by new under-19 coach Neil MacFarlane.

“I wasn’t expecting it this year,” Ecrepont told Ayr’s media team this week. “My goal has always been next year, because there’s quite a lot of goalies in the year above that are very good, so I’m buzzing.”

Ecrepont, one of 10 participants in the Scottish FA JD Performance School to be named in the squad for the matches on September 4, 6 and 9, made the loan switch to the Shire in January and returned to the club for the start of the new campaign – though he’s still very much part of the Ayr set-up under goalkeeping coach Dave Timmins.

“It’s been a really good learning experience for me,” he said. “It’s a lot more physical. When you make mistakes, that’s probably when you learn the most. It’s been really good.

“Timmo’s training is top quality. The goal at the end of the day is to try and become [Ayr’s] number one, hopefully in a couple of times.

“I used to come here to games when I was younger and to get a contract is what I always dreamed of.”

Catch up with the interview with Ollie in full online at ayrunitedfc.co.uk/ayr-united-tv.