It’s no reflection whatsoever on the cut of Junior Scotland manager Keith Burgess’s jib to say the passage of time has not been kind to him.

Yet it’s a conclusion easily arrived at when reflecting on the four years that have elapsed since the affable Budgie named a 20-strong international squad of players to take part in the 2013 Quadrangular Tournament staged in Limerick.

Indeed, it’s probably more accurate to say time has been his mortal enemy given how few of Budgie’s previous picks are still cutting it at the very top level of Junior football.

Names like Richie Barnard, Colin Leiper and Blair Bachelor of Linlithgow Rose along with Bonnyrigg Rose close season striker signing Sean Jamieson and the Bo’ness United trio of Chris Donnelly, Will Snowdon and Ross Campbell immediately come to mind

The latter was plucked from a successful Clydebank side that back then also provided Chris Wilson (nowadays at Petershill) and winger Ciaron McElroy, whose career initially took an upwards spiral with a move to Queen's Park but he is now playing at amateur level as is the former Kilbirnie Ladeside full-back Chris Malone.

Being capped at Junior level helped earn goalkeeper Alan Fleming his step up to Montrose while Chris Renton (Cowdenbeath) and Michael McKenna (Livingston) continue to play in the Seniors, but seasoned Kelty Hearts stopper Tam Courts is managing the ambitious Fife club in the Lowland League while also lost to the Junior game is the erstwhile Irvine Meadow frontman Richie Barr.

Another of Budgie’s 2013 forward line choices Ian Diack is currently on the books of Kilsyth Rangers while the skilful ex-Musselburgh Athletic front man Paul Tansey (brother of Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths ) has dropped down a couple of Divisions to turn out for Dalkeith Thistle.

And striker Stevie Hyslop scorer of a hat trick in the 6-0 victory over Isle of Man that was Junior Scotland’s final game in the 2013 tournament has brought his playing career tom a conclusion and is helping out Burgess and long standing No.2 Stewart Williamson by running the rule over prospective caps.

It’s probably true to say the Scotland boss has not much left to build around ahead of Glasgow hosting the Quadrangular Tournament in just over nine weeks.

However, he feels confident there are plenty of young and not so young pretenders ready and willing to step into the breach.

He said: "I’ve never found bringing in new blood to be a problem because everyone in Junior football wants to represent their country.

“What’s a bigger concern is who is available - or not as the case may be - because I remember we were denied the chance to pick Linlithgow Rose and Auchinleck Talbot players in 2013 because of their Scottish Cup obligations.

“And there could well be similar hurdles placed in front of us for the forthcoming tournament if the likes of Glenafton, Linlithgow Rose and Banks O’Dee make it through to the Scottish third round stage, which is being played the same weekend.

“ And what’s worse is not knowing if they will make it through before we get around to naming players to take part in warm up games and squad sessions.

“I want the Junior sides to do well in the cup, but having already lost out on potential caps with the East Region’s big guns Kelty Hearts opting to leave the Juniors, to be denied a number of other top players would be a real hammer blow.”

A house with foundations but no brickwork springs to mind when thinking of the predicament former midfielder Burgess finds himself in.

However, he has painstakingly taken in a lot of games in the intervening four years and is well clued up on players.

He was giving nothing away on his selection thoughts this week, but through here in the West towering Auchinleck Talbot goalkeeper Andy Leishman and Pollok No.1 Jordan Longmuir will have attracted his attention as will the return to the Juniors of Talbot defender Craig Pettigrew, who was a previous Junior internationalist under Burgess prior to stepping up into the Senior ranks with Stranraer.

And he cannot fail to have been impressed when watching the Scottish Junior Cup Final performances of Glenafton trio Craig Menzies, Kyle McAusland and Craig Menzies as well as Auchinleck duo Bryan Young and Keir Milliken , since moved on to Pollok and Beith respectively.

Adding to the mix Beith full back Nikky Docherty, Rob Roy pair Danny McKenzie and Shaun Fraser, Cumnock playmaker Paul Burns and jet paced front man Bryan Boylan of Kilwinning Rangers only reinforces the notion that Burgess has a fresh wave of outstanding talents to wash away memories of the old guard .

Budgie’s choices will not please everyone but it’s a fair bet to say he will get more right than wrong!

PLAYING TOMORROW: (Kick -offs 2pm): Central Sectional League Cup.

Section One: Wishaw v Shotts Bon Accord, Gartcairn v Carluke Rovers.

Section Three: St Roch's v Petershill, Thorniewood Utd v Bellshill Athletic.

Section Four: Blantyre Vics v Cambuslang Rangers, East Kilbride Thistle v Rutherglen Glencairn.Section Five.Pollok v Arthurlie, Neilston v St Anthony's.

Section Six: Clydebank v Ashfield ,Maryhill v Yoker Athletic.

Section Seven: Renfrew v Greenock, Vale of Leven v Johnstone Burgh.

Section Eight: Cumbernauld Utd v Dunipace, Rossvale v Rob Roy.

Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup. Section One: Beith v Kilwinning Rangers, Dalry Thistle v Largs Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Section Two: Irvine Vics v Irvine Meadow, Saltcoats Vics v Darvel, Hurlford Utd v Ardeer Thistle.Section Three. Troon v Annbank Utd, Maybole v Whitletts Vics, Girvan v Craigmark.

Section Four. Muirkirk v Cumnock, Auchinleck Talbot v Kello Rovers.