Scotland call up Elliot Anderson for matches with Cyprus & England

Newcastle United midfielder Elliot Anderson could play for Scotland against England astatine Hampden

Scotland manager Steve Clarke revealed a archetypal telephone up for Elliot Anderson came aft "good discussions" with the Newcastle midfielder and his family.

Born successful Whitley Bay, helium represented Scotland astatine younker level, qualifying done his grandmother.

"He had a small deliberation astir choosing betwixt Scotland and England," said Clarke.

"Elliot has been done the under-age groups with Scotland, helium is 1 we person had an oculus on.

"We had immoderate bully discussions with the lad and his household and helium has chosen to travel with us, which is bully for america present and surely bully for america successful the future."

Anderson, utilized arsenic a substitute successful Newcastle's archetypal 3 Premier League outings this season, concisely switched allegiances to England Under-19s successful 2021, but returned for 1 Scotland Under-21 quality past twelvemonth earlier turning down further calls astatine that level.

"We person got immoderate large reports from radical wrong the nine astatine Newcastle," continued Clarke.

"We've had a large commencement to the run and if you tin humor players successful bully moments it's astir apt easier than doing it hard moments.

"He's chosen to enactment with america and hopefully that turns retired to beryllium a bully determination for Elliot and ourselves."

Scotland are good placed to scope Euro 2024, sitting apical of Group A with maximum points aft 4 matches.

Cyprus person opened with 3 defeats, including a 3-0 nonaccomplishment astatine Hampden successful March.

Following the lucifer successful Larnaca connected 8 September, Scotland big England 4 days aboriginal to commemorate the archetypal gathering betwixt the nations successful 1872.

Watched by 4,000 spectators, the 0-0 gully astatine Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, is officially recognised by Fifa arsenic the archetypal planetary match.

"A crippled against England takes attraction of itself," said Clarke. "We privation to situation ourselves against the apical nations, teams that get to the aboriginal stages of the large tournaments, but each of our absorption is connected Cyprus close now."

Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper is missing done injury, portion Celtic full-back Greg Taylor and Blackburn Rovers centre-half Dominic Hyam marque mode for the fit-again brace of Nathan Patterson and Scott McKenna.

Clarke said his squad was "a spot apical heavy" with strikers portion stressing that Liverpool teen Ben Doak is successful his thoughts.

"Anybody who is doing good for their club, particularly astatine a nine similar Liverpool, playing disconnected the seat successful the Premier League, they are ever going to beryllium close," helium said. "I conscionable felt that connected this occasion, it was the close clip to bring successful Elliot.

"Ben knows that we are watching him, helium knows that helium is portion of the future, but helium has to proceed doing what helium is doing astatine his club, and helium has to proceed playing well. If helium does that, I'm definite his crook won't beryllium excessively acold away."

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), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich)

Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Kevin Nisbet (Millwall)