The upcoming 2026 World Cup should boast the best representation of Newcastle United players in recent memory, and it’s very much a deserved feat for the lads.
In the England National Team, each of Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento stands a good chance of making Thomas Tuchel’s final squad come the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Bruno Guimaraes has been one of Carlo Ancelotti’s most dependable players for Brazil, and our two German internationals Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw should definitely have a seat on the plane after their performances this season.
But one of our stars, himself enjoying a very good season so far, is looking less likely to make it after turning down the chance to switch allegiances this week.
According to Scotland manager Steve Clarke, Harvey Barnes will NOT switch his international allegiances from England to Scotland in time for the World Cup.
Reports this week suggested Barnes had been offered the chance to represent Scotland, who have qualified for their first World Cup since the 1998 tournament in France.
But when speaking to BBC Radio 5Live, Clarke revealed that Barnes retains some ambition to play for England, who he has previously represented at U-21 and U-20 level alongside a solitary appearance for the senior team.
“It’s the perennial question, everybody keeps asking me about it. This time I can say for sure, Harvey is going to concentrate on trying to play for England. He’s not going to come to Scotland. You can put that one out there.”
Barnes has 12 goals and two assists to his name across all competitions this season, with five of those coming in his eight Champions League appearances.
Where Barnes would likely have been a firm starter for Scotland if he made the switch, there’s some stiff competition for places in Tuchel’s attack.
In his natural left wing position, Barnes will not only have to contend with club teammate Gordon, who he has outscored this season, but also Marcus Rashford, who seems set to enter the World Cup with a La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup win with Barcelona to his name.
Things aren’t much better for Barnes’ chances on the opposite wing, where he’s often been deployed to accommodate Gordon on the left wing under Eddie Howe.
Not only is England vice-captain Bukayo Saka there, who is up there with Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Marc Guehi for a certainty to start our big games, but Barnes would have to compete with some firm favourites of Tuchel’s in Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, along with Chelsea’s fit-again Cole Palmer.
It’ll be a tough task, but a big push for goals and assists from Barnes for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, and he can force himself into the starter conversation as our most prolific, main goalscoring threat from the wings that Tuchel can call upon.