It's an oft stated belief that there are no longer any promising youngsters coming through the ranks of Scottish football clubs. The word "promising" is the key point in that last sentence. I say that because young players are everywhere no matter where you watch your matches in the SPL.

In the past few weeks, while preparing for live games on ESPN, I've looked at squad lists choc-full of players in the early years of their football development. Part of that of course has to do with the much criticised SPL under-21 rule. In a matchday squad of eighteen players, three must be under-21.

The SPL's chief executive Neil Doncaster has been quick to acknowledge that there are differences of opinion amongst the clubs when it comes to this issue. While introduced with the best of intentions, it has had the effect of promoting young players before they're truly ready for the top flight. Many clubs use the three under-21 slots ostensibly as bench fillers.

Anyone covering Scottish football on a regular basis naturally wants to see a harvest of emerging players who have something to offer the SPL and ultimately the Scottish national team. The truth is, we often end up giving star billing to footballers who are at best ordinary.

However it surely stands to reason that with more players than ever being given a chance at a very young age, one or two might just represent the real thing. In recent weeks, I've seen impressive performances from Murray Davidson at St. Johnstone, David Wotherspoon at Hibs and Fraser Fyvie, who is tasked with dominating in midfield for Aberdeen at the age of 16.

Such players usually benefit from experience around them though. On Sunday, I watched Hamilton's 17-year-old Jordan Kirkpatrick grow in confidence once the seasoned Guillaume Beuezelin came on to supply him with ammunition against Celtic.

Maybe we simply have to show a bit of patience. In the mid-nineties, an entire generation was damaged by the effects of the Bosman ruling.

It became more convenient for clubs to sign quick-fix players from overseas for no transfer fee, than to invest in youth.

The likes of Fyvie and Kirkpatrick will get the chance to prove themselves in these financially constrained times. It's up to them to seize it.