England or Scotland? One Newcastle United star has other priorities for now
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It was the moment Harvey Barnes seemed to announce his arrival at Newcastle United and it came almost 14 months after completing a move to Tyneside.
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Hide AdAfter an injury-hit first season that saw the former Leicester City star limited to just 21 appearances in all competitions and just seven came as part of Eddie Howe’s starting eleven as the form of Anthony Gordon saw him set as the Magpies first-choice options on the left-hand side of their front three. For Barnes, a foot injury ensured his first year in the North East was underwhelming at best but after returning to full fitness, the current campaign has brought some promising signs.
After providing an assist for Gordon in the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in August, Barnes netted his first goal of the campaign eight days later when Tottenham Hotspur fell to a 2-1 defeat at St James Park - but it was a stunning goal in the Magpies next Premier League game that seems to have sparked Barnes’ career on Tyneside. Howe’s men had been a goal down at Wolves after a Mario Lemina strike looked to have put United on their way to a first defeat of the season - but a deflected equaliser from Fabian Schar set the scene for Barnes’ moment. The winger, who had been introduced as a half-time substitute for Alexander Isak, cut in from the left-hand side, skipped past two challenges and unleashed a sublime shot that rocketed beyond home keeper Sam Johnstone before nestling in the top right-hand corner of his net.
His performances throughout September saw Barnes nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards and seemed to have laid the foundations for what the winger will hope will be a more positive season at club level. But what could lie ahead at international level for the Magpies star? Barnes has a solitary England cap to his name and, coincidentally, that came four years to this very day as the then-Leicester winger came off the bench to replace Jack Grealish during a 3-0 friendly win against Wales. Despite his form, there has been little indication Barnes will add to his cap and competition for a place in wide positions with the Three Lions remains fierce, just as his club team-mate Anthony Gordon has found out recently.
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Hide AdThere is a possible route into the international game lying in wait for Barnes, who also qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents and he could still represent the Tartan Army as he sole England cap came in a friendly. Speaking to The Times recently, Barnes opened up on the possibility of a switch in allegiance at international level and revealed there had been some discussions over such a move.
He said: “Well I’m still eligible to play for Scotland. There’s been one or two conversations, but there’s not been too much detail into that. To be honest, I haven’t really brought it in as part of my thought process yet. It’s not really been a serious conversation, so it’s not something I’ve really thought too much on. But I know I am still eligible to play for Scotland. It’s something I haven’t really thought about. And I especially have been out of the picture for England for a while now, the main focus is to get back, first of all playing for Newcastle, and then see what happens.”
Should Barnes opt to pledge his allegiance to Scotland, he would surely become a valued member of Steve Clarke’s squad and would be in serious contention for a regular starting place. Despite their recent below-par performances, Clarke still possesses a number of major talents within his squad including the likes of Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson and Aston Villa star John McGinn. There is enough talent within those ranks to move on from their Euro 2024 disappointment and look to become, not only regular competitors at major tournament, but also a major threat to so-called bigger nations.
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Hide AdFor Barnes, the attraction of such a call-up would be obvious - but for now his sole focus should be on continuing what has been a promising start to the new season with Newcastle and establishing himself as an integral member of Eddie Howe’s squad during a season that can still deliver so much for the Magpies.
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