Gary McAllister is of the belief that talented young Scottish players do not need to hang around in their homeland in order to develop their game.
Plenty of critics in Scotland suggest that youngsters at Scottish clubs should bide their time before taking the plunge into English football but the former Leicester City, Leeds United and Liverpool midfielder does not agree.
The former Scotland captain, now the top football analyst for BT Sport, told the Daily Record that up and coming talent at Scottish Premiership outfits should be looking to better themselves south of the border.
"My personal feeling is there is no time like the present," said McAllister when asked on whether or not young Scots should stay or go.
"I think it was (former Kilmarnock and Rangers star) Tommy McLean who once said to me whenever you get a chance to improve yourself or the club you are at, you must take it.
"I never thought, 'Am I good enough or old enough?' I just grabbed it. I went down to Leicester when I was 19.
"There is an argument about whether they should get 100 games under their belt. But you might get injured - there are so many ifs and buts.
"It's about the young players having the mentality to say they want to go down and represent the Scottish game with pride. Have the bit between your teeth that you are going to get into the first team.
"Someone like (Everton's) James McCarthy went down from Hamilton and really grabbed his opportunity.
"I have seen big differences in his running power and body shape. He has added all the things he needed and now he ticks all the boxes."
