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Dons boss wants youngsters to use U21 defeat as a catalyst for senior glory
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes gestures on the touchline during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi final match at Hampden Park, Glasgow

DEREK McINNES has challenged Aberdeen’s dejected Scotland young guns to turn their under-21 disappointment into Euro 2020 joy.

The Dons’ trio of Ross McCrorie, Lewis Ferguson and Connor McLennan were part of Scot Gemmell’s squad who suffered the agony of missing out on a place at next year’s European Under-21 Championships after failing to pick up the win they needed from their two final qualifiers.

It means the Scottish youngsters’ 24-year wait to reach a major championship goes on, but it is a different story for Steve Clarke’s senior squad, who are heading to their first tournament since 1998 at the end of the campaign.

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