Steve Clarke happy as Elliot Anderson opts to play for Scotland over England
Steve Clarke has revealed that the Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson decided against switching allegiance to England after positive discussions with the Scotland manager before his first senior call-up. Anderson has been called into Clarke’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus, and a friendly against England next month.
Anderson has represented Scotland at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level before playing a training-ground friendly for England Under-19s against Arsenal Under-23s in 2021. The attacking midfielder made a sole Scotland Under-21s appearance against Belgium in June 2022 before turning down further call-ups from Scot Gemmill as he considered his international future.
But Anderson was a surprise inclusion in Clarke’s squad after coming off the bench in all three of Newcastle’s Premier League matches this season. The Whitley Bay-born 20-year-old, who has a Scottish grandmother, is included ahead of players such as David Turnbull, who has not been in recent squads but has been back in the Celtic team under Brendan Rodgers.
“Elliot has been through the underage groups with Scotland, he is one we have had an eye on,” Clarke said. “He had a little think about choosing between Scotland and England. We had some good discussions with the boy and his family and he has chosen to come with us, which is good for us now and certainly good for us in the future.
“Obviously when you get to a certain stage in your career and you can see your career is starting to take off, which Elliot’s is at Newcastle ... you have to make that choice. Elliot was born in England, he has got decisions to make, and we are just happy he has come down on our side.”
Clarke also gave hope to the Liverpool winger Ben Doak that the 17-yearold was not far off a full call-up. “Anybody who is doing well for their club, especially at a club like Liverpool, playing off the bench in the Premier League, they are always going to be close,” said the manager. “I just feel that on this occasion, it was the right time to bring in Elliot.
“Ben knows that we are watching him, he knows that he is part of the future, but he has to continue doing what he is doing at his club, and he has to continue playing well. If he does that, I’m sure his turn won’t be too far away.”
Kieran Tierney has also been included in Clarke’s squad after joining Real Sociedad on loan from Arsenal. “I spoke to Kieran last week, he’s in a good place and he is looking forward to the new challenge,” Clarke said, describing the left-back’s season-long switch to La Liga as “a great move”.
“It’s great experience, life experience as well as football experience. I think that will only benefit Kieran as a player,” Clarke added. “He has been great for us and hopefully that continues into the future.”
Ché Adams is back in the 25-man squad after missing the victories over Norway and Georgia in June through injury. There is, however, no place for Blackburn’s Dominic Hyam and the Celtic full-backs Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor, but the Nottingham Forest centre-back Scott McKenna returns after injury.
The Leeds defender Liam Cooper drops out after being ruled out for eight weeks with a foot injury this month, while Ross McCrorie of Bristol City misses out after being a late call-up in the summer.
Scotland are looking to continue their 100% record in the Euro 2024 qualifiers when they take on Cyprus in Larnaca in their fifth group game on 8 September. They then host England at Hampden Park four days later in a game to mark the 150th anniversary of football’s first international in 1872.