AFTER being handed a video of the life-story of Celtic legend 'Jinky' Jimmy Johnstone, in his younger days Sunderland winger Andy Welsh laughed before accepting that he would probably have to watch it.

"My granddad used to support the Bhoys and when he gave me it I thought 'what's this about?' He said 'Watch it. He's great'," said Welsh, Sunderland's very own version of the tiny, skilful winger who terrorised full-backs.

It was watching this video that gave Welsh the idea of laying a number of milk bottles down in the family living room before dribbling a football round them to develop his skills.

And, as his whole family are Scottish, the 21-year-old would love nothing more than to follow in Johnstone's footsteps and step onto the international scene for the country he calls home.

Despite being born in Manchester and talking with a Mancunian accent, Welsh only has dreams of playing for Scotland.

And, as the Scots head into a new era under Walter Smith, having missed out on World Cup qualification, the former Stockport County player would love nothing more than to force his way into the reckoning for Euro 2008 qualifiers.

"I did play for Scotland at Under-19s but I've not heard anything about it since," said Welsh, whose uncle is the former Hearts and Partick Thistle player Dennis McQuade.

"It's a big ambition to play and I know I don't sound Scottish but my whole family are Scottish and it would be fantastic to play for them. It's a dream of mine too."

Another aspiration Welsh had was to play in the Premiership, something that has been fulfilled this season.

Today he will be given the opportunity to play on the same turf as someone who he idolised as a teenager - Ryan Giggs.

Welsh used to have a poster of the Welsh wing wizard on his bedroom wall during his schoolboy days and would frequently go to Manchester United's training ground to witness Giggs in action.

Giggs' talent has had a major influence on Welsh's development even though the pair have never met - but Welsh insists getting his shirt this afternoon is not something at the forefront of his mind.

"My next door neighbour used to have tickets and I'd go to United games when I could but the season tickets were a bit too expensive for us," said Welsh, who was born in Stockport and lived near Hyde in Greater Manchester. "I'm not that bothered about his shirt. I'm not a proper groupie. I used to watch him and he was a favourite but that's about it.

"But he is such a good role model. It will be a big plus point to be on the same pitch. It shows I have moved up so quickly from Stockport and he is the type of player I want to play against."

It is a far cry from the days when Welsh was told by his Under-15s county team he was too small and dropped from the squad completely.

That decision stopped him from taking the game too seriously and he concentrated on playing with his friends in the local Sunday league.

However, after realising he did have potential and that he did not want to do anything other than play football, he did what thousands of schoolboys do - he sent letters off to local football clubs.

"I got a few replies back to go on trial and I ended up signing for Stockport," said Welsh, who didn't see the point in sending a letter to the club he supported, Manchester United. "I was not the smallest. I always felt I was quite skilful and scored so I didn't see why size was a problem."

And now, after undergoing a serious weights programme during the summer to strengthen him for the campaign in the Premiership, Welsh is looking comfortable playing at the highest level against some of the best in the world.

Luke Young, Steve Finnan and Danny Mills are among those to have been troubled by Welsh already this season, today Manchester United's rearguard will have to be alert to Sunderland's latest wing wonder.

* Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole, currently sidelined with a stress fracture of his foot, hopes to be back in action in eight weeks.

The England defender sustained an injury to right his foot which forced him out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland.