Harvey Barnes has made it clear that he is not ready to shut the door on representing Scotland, even though he has not held any recent talks about switching from England.
The Newcastle winger, now 27, remains one of the few players eligible for two nations who has yet to fully commit, and his openness keeps the conversation alive just as Scotland prepares for one of its most exciting periods in decades.
Barnes made his England debut in 2020 during his time at Leicester City, coming off the bench in a friendly against Wales. That appearance alone does not tie him permanently to England, as competitive matches are required for full commitment.
Because he only featured in a friendly, and because he has Scottish grandparents, he remains available for Scotland should he choose to change his international future.
His path to the England squad looked promising earlier in his career, having represented the Three Lions at under-20 and under-21 level before breaking into the senior team.
But with the depth of talent available to England and injuries that slowed his progress, Barnes has found himself on the outside looking in. Meanwhile, Scotland have been making strides on the international stage and have just celebrated a historic milestone.
On Tuesday night, Scotland ended a 27-year wait to qualify for the World Cup finals, beating Denmark 4-2 in a dramatic and emotional night at Hampden Park.
The country erupted with joy, and the result secured their place at next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was a moment the entire nation had been desperate to experience again, and it may open the door for new faces to enter the squad ahead of a historic campaign.
Manager Steve Clarke will face tough decisions when selecting his 26-man World Cup squad, but one position where depth remains thin is on the wings. Scotland have relied heavily on midfielders and full-backs for creativity, and natural wide players are still in short supply.
Ben Gannon-Doak has shown promise, but his injury against Denmark after just 21 minutes showed how fragile the position still is. Ryan Christie can play wide but performs far better centrally, where he has excelled as a holding midfielder for Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola.
Barnes is fully aware of Scotland’s shortage of natural wide men, and his eligibility makes him an intriguing option. When asked about the possibility of representing Scotland, he gave an honest and measured response.
He admitted it was not something that had been discussed recently but did not shut the door. Instead, he acknowledged that the topic has surfaced in the past and that the possibility still exists, even if no formal conversations have taken place.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Barnes said he had not put much thought into the matter recently but was delighted to see Scotland qualify. He described the match against Denmark as a “crazy game” and admitted that everyone in Scotland would have enjoyed the moment.
His comments reflected admiration rather than commitment, but the key detail was his refusal to rule anything out.
When asked directly if the possibility of representing Scotland was now closed, Barnes responded honestly: it is not. He emphasised that he has played for England and respects that part of his journey, but the eligibility remains.
With no real discussions happening at the moment, he kept his options open without making any promises.
For Scotland, Barnes would instantly provide more quality, experience and threat in a position where they lack natural depth. For Barnes, a switch could offer him the opportunity to play regular international football and compete in a major tournament next summer something that may not come quickly with England.
As the World Cup approaches and competition intensifies, Barnes’ future remains one of the lingering questions around the Scotland camp. He may not be ready to choose a direction yet, but one thing is clear: the door is still open, and the decision may eventually come down to opportunity, timing and ambition.
