The Motherwell born midfielder collected the award for what could be described as a ‘combative’ performance in the holding role, as Celtic’s Shaun Maloney and Preston’s Simon Lynch won the game for the Scots.
Also on show for Scotland was centre-half Gary Caldwell, currently on loan at Coventry, while Stephen Brennan played the full 90 minutes of his debut for Ireland at this level.
Shola Ameobi played the full 90 minutes for England’s Under-21s in Carrara as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat by Italy, thanks to a second-half strike from Empoli’s Marco Borriello.
England’s defeat should be put into context though with 12 of David Platt’s 18-man squad having three or less caps, as the likes of JJ, Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky all on senior duty against Australia on Tuesday.
Reports suggest that England were well beaten, but that Shola was part of their best move which ended with Shaun Wright-Phillips having England’s only shot of the game – it went out for a throw in.