Scotland manager Steve Clarke has publicly confirmed his interest in calling up Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes, opening the door for the English-born player to switch his international allegiance ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Barnes on Clarke's Radar for Crucial Switch
Harvey Barnes, who earned a solitary cap for England in a friendly against Wales in 2020, remains eligible to represent Scotland through his maternal grandparents. The 28-year-old, born in Burnley, has recently spoken about the possibility of making the switch, and Clarke has now responded.
Addressing the situation for the first time, Clarke admitted Barnes is firmly on his radar. It is understood the Scotland boss is likely to speak to the player's agent in the New Year to gauge his interest before any direct contact. If discussions progress positively, Barnes could be integrated into the squad for the friendly matches scheduled for March 2025.
"That would be good timing," Clarke stated. "That would be the right timing."
No Fear of Disruption in Scotland Camp
With Scotland preparing for their first World Cup finals since 1998, Clarke dismissed concerns that introducing a new face so close to the tournament could cause friction within the squad. He pointed to the smooth integration of striker Che Adams, who declared for Scotland shortly before Euro 2020.
"It didn't happen with Che. He was welcomed into the group straightaway," Clarke explained. "Football players are quite selfish, they like to think if someone is going to help them be better and the team to be better... As long as they come and they are committed then I am pretty sure anyone who comes into this group of players will enjoy it."
Clarke emphasised the 26-man squad limit for the World Cup, noting it creates both opportunity and competition. "There are some spaces there, but not too many," he said. "We should be very grateful and loyal to the players that have got us there... If you want to get into this squad then you have to be good and committed."
World Cup Preparations Take Shape
The article also outlines Scotland's evolving plans for their World Cup build-up. The preparation is set to begin in earnest in March, with a likely home friendly against Japan and a match against an African nation in the north of England also under consideration.
A Hampden Park send-off game is hoped for at the end of May. The squad is then considering an initial training camp in a humid environment like Florida in early June, concluding with a friendly against a non-European nation around June 5 or 6.
For the tournament itself, with Scotland's first group games against Haiti and Morocco in Boston, officials are exploring basing the team in North Carolina or Ohio from June 7. This would mean travelling to the host city just two days before each match due to a lack of suitable training bases in the Boston area. The exact itinerary, including travel to Miami for the final group game against Brazil on June 24, will be confirmed in mid-January.
