ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that he would love to lure Elliot Anderson away from the Scottish national team.
Anderson, 20, represented Scotland at a youth level until March 2021, when he switched international allegiance.
Kenny RamsayAnderson pulled out of the Scotland squad last week[/caption]
GettySouthgate wants the 20-year-old to join England[/caption]
After making one appearance in a friendly for the Three Lions, he returned to Scotland eight months later.
The midfielder – who signed a long-term deal with Newcastle last September – received his first senior Scotland call-up last month, but he pulled out of the squad after just two training sessions.
It’s believed he felt uncomfortable in the set-up and wanted to leave camp for a rethink.
And that has handed Southgate and his team a huge boost in their pursuit to steal him from under Steve Clarke’s nose.
Speaking ahead of England’s match against Scotland at Hampden Park, the Three Lions boss revealed that he is monitoring the situation.
Southgate said: “We liked him and we do like him. He’s a player that’s doing really well.
“Obviously, he was called into their squad earlier in the week and I don’t know what the position is at the moment. I saw he’s pulled out.
“Let’s see – that’s something that John and others at our organisation will be picking up. He’s definitely a player we like.”
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Although he was born in England, Anderson chose to represent Scotland as a youngster.
The midfielder is of Scottish descent as his grandmother was born in Glasgow.