Nigel Clough is a huge fan of Scots striker Marc McNulty

Former Livi man Marc McNulty is the Blades top scorer under Nigel Clough.

You will struggle to find too many bigger advocates of Scottish football down south than Nigel Clough.

The Sheffield United manager has always been quick to head to Scotland to find players, first when he was in charge of Derby and now at Bramall Lane.

Clough already has nine Scots in his squad, but he was seen at the SPFL game on Monday night between Hamilton and Dundee United looking for more.

And he has admitted that a greater exposure to League football at a younger age than their English counterparts is making Scottish players such an attractive proposition.

“It’s a proven market for us,” he says. “It’s tried and tested because we bought a few lads when I was at Derby. They came and settled down well and they want to play in England.

“Obviously there is a risk whenever you sign a player, but that is negated somewhat by bringing the Scottish lads down. Having a large contingent here helps, too. And we have good players, so it’s worked.

“The Scottish teams are putting the youngsters in because they can’t afford to buy players. So they have to develop them and sell them on.

“Because these youngsters are in the first team at 17 and 18, they have two or three years’ League experience ahead of the English lads, who are in the Under-21 League, which is a non-contact set-up. That gives them a big advantage.”

One of the most recent recruits was Marc McNulty, signed from Livingston for around £100,000 last summer and he is the Blades’ top scorer.

His goal knocked out Premier League Southampton in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup and the reward is a semi against Tottenham.

The first leg is this Wednesday with Clough preparing to lead his South Yorkshire branch of the Tartan Army to North London.

“McNulty has been brilliant for us,” says his boss. “Then there’s Stefan Scougall, Jamie Murphy and Ryan Flynn. It’s possibly going back to how it was when lots of clubs bought Scottish players.

“Scotland are improving at all levels internationally and it’s because they are having to blood their younger players through necessity.

“We would rather take a chance on a striker coming in from Scotland as we would one coming in from abroad.

“The Scottish game also replicates English football because it’s physical. Our game against Preston last weekend was a battle and these lads have to be able to cope. And coming from Scotland, they can.

“Look at Andrew Robertson, who went straight into the Premier League at Hull, and there are a few more like him.

“Scotland is a good breeding ground, and the opposite of England, where young lads are not getting an opportunity.”