Harvey Barnes Gives an Intriguing Response about the Opportunity to Change Country Ahead of the World Cup

Gilabola.com – Harvey Barnes was asked again about the possibility of representing Scotland at the 2026 World Cup after scoring two goals for Newcastle United against Manchester City.

However, he dismissed the topic in a light manner while emphasizing that his focus was completely on the club, while his status, having appeared once for England in a friendly match, meant that the opportunity to change countries was still open.

Barnes laughed when interviewed after the match and asked about the possibility of defending Scotland. He reportedly even pretended to have problems with his hearing aids to avoid a direct answer.

In the interview, he was also said to have received a follow-up question about whether his performance against Manchester City could be considered a signal to Scotland coach Steve Clarke. He explained that it didn’t cross his mind.

He added that the season was still long so he was not thinking about the international agenda. According to him, he has many club matches to play before entering the World Cup period.

Barnes believes that the Newcastle United team’s performance is not yet stable, so he feels his focus is completely on the club. He called the match against Manchester City a priority at that time.

He then stated that there was no hidden intention behind his two goals in that match. For him, Newcastle United’s victory is more important than speculation about which country he will play for.

Barnes’ International Situation and World Cup Chances

Barnes has one cap with England, which he earned in a friendly against Wales in 2020. As the match was not a competitive match, his status allows him to change associations.

He is eligible to defend Scotland because he has bloodlines from his grandparents. This has led to Scotland reportedly starting to consider his name ahead of next year’s tournament.

Scotland have just confirmed their place in the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark. It was their first participation after 28 years of absence.

In the same interview session, the presenter is said to have joked about the name ‘Harvey McBarnes’ if he moved to Scotland. Barnes responded to the joke with laughter.

He still did not provide certainty, even when Micah Richards reiterated his question regarding the decision. His attitude shows that he does not want to discuss his international future yet.

Barnes has so far failed to compete for the wing position in the England national team because there are many players who appear consistently. Names like Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Jarrod Bowen are still at the front.

Scotland actually offers greater opportunities to appear, including the opportunity to appear in the World Cup. This situation made speculation about him even more intense.

Scotland will find out their opponents in the group phase after the draw is held on December 5. Barnes is said to be one of the names that could be on Clarke’s radar to strengthen his attacking options.