Southgate names Premier League pair he wanted to choose to play for England

Gareth Southgate says England looked into the possibility of tempting both Evan Ferguson and Erling Haaland into playing for the Three Lions, but clearly both strikers have pledged their international allegiance elsewhere.

There was a possibility that both Ferguson and Haaland could have opted to play for England, but the Brighton striker has chosen Ireland, the country of his birth, while the Manchester City superstar plays for Norway, where he grew up after being born in Leeds.

Southgate admits that both forwards were pursued, at least to some extent, but he is more than happy with having Harry Kane up front instead.

On Ferguson possibly still being able to switch to England, Southgate said: ‘I think he’s played too many games at senior level, I think he’s got eight caps now.

‘I’m not exactly sure on whether he definitely can’t, but I think he’s made it very clear he feels he was born in Ireland and he’s represented them and I would 100 per cent [support that].

‘I think he’s a bloody good player. We have to respect him, I don’t think he’s given any inkling that would be any different.

‘At the same time, we were looking at Haaland and wishing that he might have been available as well. But we’ve got a pretty good number nine and we’re very happy with him.’

A player with an international future still up for discussion is Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson, who has played for both England and Scotland at youth level.

He was called up to the latest Scotland senior squad but pulled out due to injury so is yet to win a full cap for any nation.

On the future of the 20-year-old, Southgate said: ‘I don’t know. We liked him and we do like him. We think 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 [FA Technical Director] John [McDermott] and others at our organisation will be picking up. He’s definitely a player we like.’

Scotland host England in a friendly at Hampden Park on Tuesday evening.

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