Scotland Youth Teams National Coach Billy Stark admits the Scottish Football Association will have to get used to the criticism for losing teenage protege James McCarthy to the Republic of Ireland.

McCarthy chose to play for the Republic of Ireland, for whom he qualifies through a grandparent, after being overlooked by the SFA for their under-16 team.

Stark said: "We will take the criticism that comes and try and move on. Obviously as James gets better and better it might keep getting thrown back in our faces but good luck to him and we wish him well."

He added: "At that time, unfortunately for James, it was felt that he wasn't any better than the players that were there (for Scotland). Months later that might have changed but in the meantime the Republic of Ireland stepped in and they have got his services.

"People will feel players have been missed so we have to live with that, if it's criticism, and try to make sure it doesn't happen again."

After the 18-year-old was transferred from Hamilton to Wigan this week for a fee reported to be around £1.2million, with the potential to go up to £3million, Accies chairman Ronnie McDonald questioned why the young Glaswegian had been missed by Scotland.

McDonald predicted that McCarthy would one day be worth £10million and said: "People should now be asking why the SFA could deem James not good enough to play for Scotland at under-16 level?

"It's a national disgrace James was never capped for Scotland. I still can't believe they snubbed him."