Harvey Barnes Open to Switching Allegiance to Scotland

Newcastle, England – Harvey Barnes, the 27-year-old winger for Newcastle United, has not ruled out the possibility of switching his international allegiance from England to Scotland. Barnes, who has played only once for England in a friendly against Wales in 2020, is eligible to represent Scotland through his maternal grandparents.

Following Scotland’s remarkable 4-2 victory over Denmark on Tuesday, which secured their spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Barnes expressed his openness to potentially joining Steve Clarke‘s squad. However, he emphasized that there have been no official discussions regarding this move.

“Is the door closed? No, of course it’s not,” Barnes told Sky Sports. “I’ve obviously played for England, and I know the eligibility side is still there. It’s hard to say either way, but there’s been no real chats or any sort of progression in that sense.”

In his brief international career, Barnes has played just 17 minutes for England, coming on as a substitute in the aforementioned friendly. Despite his limited international experience, he has had a noteworthy run in the Premier League, scoring nine goals last season for Newcastle. His performance has kept him away from England’s national team under manager Thomas Tuchel.

Reflecting on Scotland’s recent success, Barnes said, “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.” He acknowledged the ongoing conversation about possibly representing Scotland but noted it hasn’t been at the forefront of his mind recently.

Players who switch their national team allegiance have become increasingly common, especially for those with dual nationality. Barnes’s situation is a notable example as he balances potential international futures. Fans eagerly await the World Cup draw on December 5, where Scotland will find out their group-stage opponents.