Interim manager Malky Mackay says the young players who pulled on the Scotland jersey against Holland have the potential to gain 50 caps or more.

Mackay handed debuts to Ryan Jack, Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor, while John McGinn and Kenny McLean gained further experience in the national jersey and 20-year-old Kieran Tierney was named stand-in captain.

Scotland lost 1-0 to the Dutch at Pittodrie.

Mackay, however, saw enough signs of promise to suggest the national team has a bright future.

He said: "I was really proud of the players for the whole game. To play against Holland and have 18 chances says something about them.

"We were disappointed not to be more clinical but I thought we showed real bravery. We have a young group there who are really athletic, tactically aware and technically good players.

"People have knocked the technique of Scottish players but when you look at that, playing against one of the top European teams, who are very comfortable on the ball, but we were also very comfortable on the ball.

"That is the group that have the jersey. Why that group can't go on and get 50 caps each I don't know, they just have to keep that belief and club atmosphere.

"If you add Leigh Griffiths, Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher and Stuart Armstrong, top quality players, to that group you have a really good blend.

He added: "We were playing against a top, top team. If you go in and play against mid-ranking teams in qualifying then we win.

"We could have got beaten 4 or 5 had we been naive tonight. They have to have belief and keep growing become 50 cap players."

Hours before the match Scottish FA chief executive declared in a radio interview that Mackay is not under consideration to become permanent Scotland boss.

Mackay says he will go back to his day job as performance director and is aiming to make the national set-up like that of a Champions League side.

He said: "I will go back to my day job tomorrow but I am involved in building the performance staff.

"I want the set-up to be cutting edge and like a Champions League club.

"I certainly have enough experience in the Premier League and around Champions League clubs to know exactly what is needed, and that is what it is good to be.