Newcastle United midfielder Eliott Anderson has been called up for the Scotland senior side for the first time.
The move appears to cement Anderson’s decision to play for the Scottish national side, with the 20-year-old previously having represented England at youth level.
Steve Clarke’s side travel to Cyrpus for a Euro 2024 qualifier on September 8, before hosting England in a friendly at Hampden Park four days later.
“He’s a good player, doing well for his club,” Clarke said on Anderson’s selection. “He’s been through the age groups at Scotland, he’s one we’ve had an eye on.
“He had an inquiry – he had a little think about choosing between Scotland and England. I’ve had some good discussions with the boy and his family. He’s chosen to come with us which is good for us now and certainly good for us in the future.”
Anderson, who was born in Tyne and Wear and is a product of the Newcastle academy, was called up by the England Under-19s in 2021, having only played for Scotland beforehand. He then made his Scotland Under-21 debut at the end of the 2021-22 season but did not feature for the side during the 2022-23 campaign.
Anderson enjoyed a productive six-month loan spell at League One side Bristol Rovers after joining in January 20222, before returning to Newcastle last summer.
He played 27 times for Newcastle in the 2022-23 season, making six starts in all competitions, and has appeared as a substitute in all three of their matches so far in this campaign.
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Scotland squad:
Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Norwich), Liam Kelly (Motherwell), Zander Clark (Hearts)
Defenders: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Ryan Porteous (Watford), John Souttar (Rangers), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Patterson (Everton)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton)
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Kevin Nisbet (Millwall).
(Photo: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
