Islam Feruz showed Celtic what they are missing as he inspired Scotland's under-19 side to a 4-3 win over Switzerland yesterday afternoon.

The forward, who was schooled through the ranks at the Parkhead club from primary age, scorned a professional deal at the club and headed to Chelsea last summer.

However, a reputation that was forged in his early years at the club appears to be growing into fruition now.

The 17-year-old produced an outstanding individual display as he netted a hat-trick which enabled Scotland to top their under-19 European Championship group.

Ricky Sbragia's side now progress as a seeded side to the elite draw in December. The next trio of qualifying games will take place next Spring.

It was, though, Feruz who ultimately made the difference for the Scots.

The youngster blotted his copybook only once during the game, a silly booking that carries into the elite round when he went on and netted after being flagged offside, but other than that his effort was measured and composed.

Sbragia explained later that it is not just the growing maturity into the 17-year-old's game that has benefited the team, but also the way in which the under-19s now tailor their game to play to the Chelsea kid's strengths.

"Individually, he did some fantastic things," said Sbragia. "Islam has been fantastic.

"Previously, we never played to his strengths with the under-17s but he is a prolific goalscorer and his workrate is fantastic.

"When I go and watch him with Chelsea, he is on the shoulder, he's down the side. We were asking him to come to it, but with this group here we have asked him to play on the shoulder and we get balls over the top to him because he has got fantastic pace.

"We didn't do that so much in the under-17s, we asked him to come for it, but he scores goals, he has pace and we need to play to his strengths. We're learning as well."

Ibrox youngsters Barrie McKay and Lewis MacLeod, who have been involved all season in Ally McCoist's first team, started the game on the bench, Sbragia opting to rest the duo after starting the games last Tuesday and Thursday Armenia and Romania.

Both were involved in the second period, MacLeod whacking the crossbar with a drive from the edge of the box with almost his first touch of the ball, while it was another Old Firm kid who had opened the scoring early on.

Hoops defender Joe Chalmers netted with a sublime free-kick before the Swiss hauled themselves into a 2-1 interval lead through Michael Frey and Thibault Corbaz.

Feruz levelled things before Frey added his second of the game to make it 3-2 before he twice struck again to give the Scots a perfect finish to the mini-tournament.

It will be December before they know who they face next when the draw takes place in France, with the next three-game tournament being played next Spring.

"No matter who we get, we will be playing against the best teams," said Sbragia.

"It is how you approach it, how you deal with it, how may good decisions make during the game. These games are always tough and whoever we get, it will be a very difficult group."