Billy Stark welcomed the news Ryan Gauld has pledged his future to Dundee United as he handed the 17-year-old his first call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad.

The young playmaker has been named in the 21-man group for the European Championship qualifier against Georgia at St Mirren Park on November 14 after a string of impressive displays for United.

The international call completes a positive week for the teenager, who signed a new contract extension tying him to the Tannadice club until the summer of 2016.

The new deal ends any speculation over the immediate future of Gauld, who had reportedly been watched by Real Madrid, and Stark is pleased to see the player continue his development in the first team under Jackie McNamara.

He said: "There are three or four of them who have signed new deals at United and I think that allows them to settle down and continue developing as they have been.

"Dundee United take a lot of credit for that - they have given them the opportunity.

"Jackie McNamara is not averse to putting young ones in if they are good enough and they've certainly proved they are good enough."

Gauld has made the jump to the U21s having previously featured for the U19s, and Stark believes he has plenty to offer at a more senior level for the young Scots.

He said: "I've seen quite a bit of him. He's still a young lad but we have some younger ones in the squad.

"I saw Ryan most recently in the game at Tannadice against St Mirren and he was outstanding that day.

"He was in my thoughts for the last squad and he has just increased that with the performances he has had since.

"First of all, he's a very talented footballer. Allied to that, he's inventive, creative and has a great appetite to affect the game. For one so young, that's a bit unusual.

"He has shown a lot of confidence by being given the chance in the first team at Dundee United and he's grasped that.

"It's not a case of accommodating a young player that does okay in games; he has actually almost dictated Dundee United's creative part of the game.

"He is doing really well for a young one at the moment."

St Mirren midfielder Kenny McLean returns to the squad, as does top Partick Thistle talent Stuart Bannigan.

There are also places for Motherwell's Fraser Kerr, Rangers starlet Lewis Macleod and Celtic contingent Stuart Findlay, John Herron, Dylan McGeouch and Callum McGregor.