‘I’m sure’ - Newcastle United’s £38m man flirts with possible career switch
Harvey Barnes earned his sole England cap against Wales in 2020 but is eligible to represent Scotland.
Harvey Barnes has left the door open to switch his international allegiance to Scotland ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The Tartan Army booked a spot at the 2026 finals in sensational fashion with a late 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden Park. Pandemonium erupted north of the border as Scotland prepare for their first World Cup campaign since 1998.
England were the first European country to qualify and, with Wales and Northern Ireland reaching the play-offs - set to take place in March - all four home nations could reach the World Cup for the second time in history. Newcastle United winger Barnes has hinted at being open to represent Scotland should Steve Clarke come calling.
Harvey Barnes international history
Barnes represented England at under-20 and under-21 level before earning his only senior cap against Wales in 2020. Eligible for Scotland through the grandparent rule, FIFA rules allow the 27-year-old to switch allegiances if they have played fewer than three senior competitive matches for their current national team.
This would allow Clarke - who spoke to the player while he was at Leicester City - to call Barnes up for the World Cup next summer. However, those who have helped Scotland reach the finals may not be too pleased…
Harvey Barnes leaves door open
Speaking to Sky Sports, Barnes flirted with the idea of switching allegiance: "It’s not something I’ve really spoken about or put thought into recently. There’s always been talk about it and a while ago there was bits and bobs about it.
“But recently it’s not cropped up. It was great to see them win and get through (on Tuesday) night, it was a crazy game, and I’m sure everyone in Scotland enjoyed themselves.
“Is it closed off? No, of course it’s not. I’ve obviously played for England and I know the eligibility side of it is still there so it’s hard to say either way but there’s been no real chats or progression in that sense."
Steve Clarke inspiring next generation
An ecstatic Clarke is hoping Scotland’s qualification can inspire the next generation of talent. He said post-match: “This should stimulate or motivate young players to go out and become Scotland internationals in the future. Hopefully there is a legacy from this group of players to the younger generations and we don’t wait so long to go to the next tournament and the next tournament.
“By the way, it is more difficult to qualify for the World Cup than it used to be. If you look at the stats, it is really difficult to qualify. It is incredible, even when the boys went to France 1998. There were 15 European teams in a 32-team tournament. That is almost 50 per cent. But this one is 16 out of 48, almost a third. You see the World Cup getting bigger and you think, ‘It must be easier to get there’. But it is not, it is more difficult to get there.”