England forward Harvey Barnes leaves door open for Scotland switch | OneFootball

England winger Harvey Barnes has refused to rule out switching his international allegiance to play for Scotland. 

Steve Clarke’s side secured automatic World Cup qualification with a 4-2 victory against Denmark on Tuesday. 

Scotland have not played in the prestigious tournament since 1998, but they will now make their long-awaited return next summer. 

Barnes has one England cap to his name, but he still qualifies to play for the Tartan Army through his maternal grandparents. 

According to FIFA rules, a player can switch to another nation if he hasn’t earned a cap in a professional game. 

Barnes’ only appearance for the Three Lions was in a friendly match against Wales in October 2020. 

When asked about the potential to switch his international allegiances by Sky Sports, the 27-year-old said: “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 last night, it was a crazy game, and I’m sure everyone in Scotland enjoyed themselves.

Barnes added: “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.”

Barnes has been an important player for Newcastle since joining the club from Leicester City in 2023 for a £38 million fee. 

In 80 appearances across all competitions, he has scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists for the Magpies.  

The winger is a Premier League regular, but he hasn’t received a call-up by Thomas Tuchel. And given the competition for places in the England team, it is unlikely that he will. 

Switching to Scotland will increase his chances to play in the 2026 World Cup, but it remains to be seen whether Steve Clarke will opt to add the forward to his squad. 

Stats from Transfermarkt