Harvey Barnes chooses England over Scotland for World Cup squad
Thomas Tuchel has selected Harvey Barnes for his expanded England squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup, with the Newcastle United winger turning down approaches from Scotland to pursue his international ambitions with the Three Lions, reports BritPanorama.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Burnley, has enjoyed an outstanding campaign at St James’ Park, netting 14 goals so far this season.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke had been keen to persuade Barnes to represent his nation, given the winger’s eligibility through his maternal grandparents. However, those efforts have ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Barnes will now compete for a place on the plane to the tournament in North America, linking up with his England teammates on Tuesday, following a 76-minute appearance in Newcastle’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to local rivals Sunderland at the weekend.
While the upcoming fixtures against Colombia and Japan are friendlies rather than competitive matches, Barnes’ decision to represent England appears to close the door on representing Scotland at this summer’s tournament. His choice has been clear, as he has prioritised wearing the England shirt.
Tuchel views these forthcoming matches as an opportunity to assess players on the fringes of his squad, stating that they can “win plane tickets” to the World Cup being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The England manager has assembled a large group for these fixtures, giving selected players a final chance to stake their claim before the domestic season concludes.
Clarke, meanwhile, acknowledged his pursuit of Barnes has come to nothing, affirming the winger’s commitment to England. “It’s the perennial question, everybody keeps asking me about it,” Clarke remarked on BBC Radio 5 Live. “This time I can say for sure, Harvey’s going to concentrate on trying to play for England, he’s not going to come to Scotland.”
Tuchel emphasised that England are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for a first international trophy since the 1966 World Cup. He remarked on the challenges presented by the timing of the international break, noting that players are heavily involved in critical fixtures at club level.
Having qualified, Tuchel sees the friendlies as a good opportunity to open up competition within his squad. “We decided then to divide it in basically two camps,” he explained. “We need top quality, we need hunger and excitement to create excitement. That’s our goal.”
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, the dynamics of team selection and player commitment highlight the poignant connections between personal ambition and national pride.
