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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Macdonald

Ally McCoist backs Harvey Barnes to choose Scotland over England

Ally McCoist has backed Newcastle midfielder Harvey Barnes to choose Scotland over England.

The 25-year-old reportedly turned down advances from Steve Clarke's side in the past and received one cap under Gareth Southgate which came against Wales in 2020.

However, that fixture was a friendly and he is still eligible to play north of the border due to the grandparents rule.

And McCoist hopes Barnes will decide to feature for Scotland.

He said on talkSPORT: " I may be biased, but he has got to switch. He has got to – he is going to get a game.

"I look at Harvey Barnes and I can see him playing for Scotland. He is the type of player that the Scottish fans love and the Scottish team need, and with the greatest respect I look at the England team and he is no going to play – they have got Saka, Foden and Grealish.

"It is going to be extremely difficult for him to play. I am being a bit light-hearted about it and I don't think it's a no-brainer, but it looks like Scotland now have a squad capable of qualifying for championships."

Elliot Anderson could still change his international allegiances back to England, it has emerged.

Southgate admits the Newcastle midfielder is a player he likes and the FA are keeping close tabs on his situation.

The 20-year-old, who was born in Whitley Bay, qualifies to play for Scotland through his grandmother.

He has been involved at youth levels for both Scotland and England. 

arke called Anderson up to his latest squad for the international double-header against Cyprus and England.

It was hoped that it provide the ideal chance to show Anderson a closer look at the Scotland set-up, and tie up his future with the national team by handing him his first cap. 

However, he pulled out of the squad last Tuesday, with a knock in training cited as the reason behind that decision.

It means that his international future remains up in the air, as he will still not have made a competitive cap for either Scotland or England.

Southgate said: “We liked him and we do like him. He’s a player that’s doing really well.

“Obviously, he was called into their squad earlier in the week and I don’t know what the position is at the moment. I saw he’s pulled out.

“Let’s see - that’s something that John McDermott and others at our organisation will be picking up. He’s definitely a player we like.

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