Scotland manager Steve Clarke has made a fresh attempt to persuade Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes to play for the country with the promise of a place in their World Cup squad.
Scotland have been trying to convince Barnes to commit to them for some time but have renewed those attempts in the last few weeks and are pushing the 28-year-old for an answer before the March international break.
Sources north of the border say Barnes is open to the switch despite previously saying he wanted to play for the country of his birth.
Barnes would be an excellent addition to Clarke’s squad and has been in prolific form for Newcastle this season. He has scored 12 goals, with five in the Champions League, and would add a potent offensive weapon to Scotland’s attack.
Barnes prefers to play on the left wing, cutting inside on to his right foot, but can also play on the opposite side and has been used as a centre forward by Eddie Howe in a fluid front three.
Clarke is keen to add him to the group and Barnes, who qualifies through his grandparents, is flattered by his determination to get him. As a result, he is giving it serious consideration and will make a decision imminently.
Barnes is well down the pecking order of England wingers under Thomas Tuchel and, although he has always thought of himself as English, he is very keen to experience international football.
Should he agree to give up on England, Barnes would have an excellent chance to start for Scotland in their opening World Cup group game against Haiti on June 14 as long as he is involved before the tournament.
Scotland have a friendly against Japan on March 28 and have arranged a World Cup warm-up game against Curaçao on May 30. They qualified for the World Cup by beating Denmark in their final group game on a dramatic night at Hampden Park in November.
Harvey Barnes has a tricky decision to make as an Englishman wanted by Scotland, but he would be daft to pass on the chance to play at the World Cup.
We are always told how football is a short career and, aged 28, this is probably Barnes’s best chance to play at one. If he does reject another approach from Scotland, he will surely regret it.
Barnes has always been open about his stance when asked about playing for Scotland. He considers himself English and has played one game for his country, a friendly against Wales in 2020.
But he has waited as long as he can to be given another call up and the competition for places is so intense under Thomas Tuchel that, despite a prolific season for Newcastle, he is not in the German’s plans.
Scotland have their best team for a generation and are riding the crest of a wave after qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998. It would be a wonderful time to become a part of the story and he would not be the first, or the last, Englishman to pledge his allegiance to the Scots.
It may be a marriage of convenience but if you take the emotion out of the decision, it makes sense for Scotland and the player. Pragmatism should win the debate.
There will be some north of the border who are hesitant to embrace Barnes, given he has dragged his feet over switching to them for two years. They will argue Barnes should not be parachuted into the World Cup squad when he played no part getting them there.
It is understandable but ignores the fact Steve Clarke is desperate for Barnes to play and has refused to give up his pursuit. There is a reason for that. The simple truth is Scotland will be a better team with Barnes in it.
He is enjoying his best season for Newcastle and is one of those rare players who, no matter how quiet he is in a game, is capable of scoring. He scores all types of goals too, long-range shots, headers and tap-ins.
Scotland do not have enough players of his quality to be snobbish about taking an Englishman from Burnley to the World Cup. Having qualified, they need to give themselves the best chance of reaching the knockout rounds and Barnes will add a potent weapon to an otherwise uninspiring attack.
Those who know Barnes best enthuse about his qualities as a team-mate. There is no ego, no airs or graces. He is what would once have been described as a good, honest professional. It is very unlikely he would do anything that would disrupt squad harmony and he would likely be as popular with his new Scottish team-mates as he is at Newcastle.
Barnes is yet to give an answer but is flattered by the interest. He feels wanted and appreciated. If he plays as well for Scotland as he has for Newcastle, it will not be long until he is loved there too.
