They have already shown interest in one Newcastle player, and now Scotland is focusing on another.
Anthony Gordon, a flyer for Newcastle, is wanted by Scotland to pledge his allegiance to the Tartan Army and his international career.
Steve Clarke, the manager of Scotland, and his No. 2, former Magpies coach John Carver, have taken an interest in him as the newest Toon player. Gordon has added Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento to the list of people on the Scots’ radar after informing them of attention north of the border. Despite being born in Merseyside, the 22-year-old is eligible because of his paternal grandparents.
He has been capped by England at various age group levels and was Player of the Tournament in the summer when the Three Lions won the European Under-21 Championships. Scotland has always known that Gordon was qualified to play for them but had always assumed he would be out of reach. However, the fact that he has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s recent squads despite his outstanding form at club level, has sparked fresh interest.
Clarke and Carver are realistic enough to know that even with Scotland’s improved standing on the international stage, the odds are against Gordon turning his back on England. The Three Lions, because they regularly feature in major tournaments, remains the most attractive proposition for a lot of players. Declan Rice and Jack Grealish both switched allegiances after playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.
And Scotland are privately pessimistic about their chances of hanging on to Gordon’s Toon teammate Anderson, despite calling him into the senior squad in September. Carver, – Tyneside born and bred – admits Scotland are casting their net far and wide as they prepare for the Euros in Germany next year.
He said: “If someone’s got a relation who is Scottish, then we have to look at it. It’s then down to what he decides but we are aware that these are big decisions about their future.
“It’s no secret that Newcastle is my team and I watch them more than anybody. We are aware they have several outstanding players, who have never been capped by England at senior level, who qualify for Scotland.”
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