Two Newcastle United players were frequently discussed during the international break.
While any pause in domestic action is frustrating, Newcastle were in the headlines ahead of England’s clash away at Scotland, a match they eventually won 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Indeed, Harvey Barnes and Elliot Anderson featured heavily in the build-up.
Tartan Army manager Steve Clarke has admitted he had previously spoken to Barnes after reports emerged suggesting he could switch allegiance to those north of the border despite having played for the Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, hinted England could look to tempt Anderson (who, admittedly, has not played for Scotland at senior level) after he pulled out of Clarke’s squad with a mystery injury.
The two, however, have now been criticised.
Don Hutchison hits out at Harvey Barnes and Elliot Anderson reports
Indeed, former Scotland international Don Hutchison hit out at the idea the Newcastle duo could switch allegiances.
“This is weird to me,” he told ESPN.
“This surely comes down to how you feel. I always wanted to play for Scotland. You should never be allowed to switch in my opinion, even if you’ve played a friendly, you’ve played two minutes, you’ve played an hour.
“What gives you the right to say as a player, ‘right, I’m going to go play for Scotland, oh, by the way, in two weeks’ time, I might switch and go and play for England’. I don’t understand it.
“Nothing to do with it (England being better than Scotland). I don’t know what these boys are thinking. I don’t understand how you are Harvey Barnes and you want to switch. And you are Elliott Anderson, you want to switch.”
That seems unfair
While not being on board with the rules is one thing, the topic of dual nationality is another entirely.
That is a deeply personal consideration and there are so many variables to consider in terms of family connection and sense of self that play into it.
Granted, the optics aren’t always great but players switching countries is a tale as old as time in football.
The great Ferenc Puskas represented Hungary and Spain, while Alfredo Di Stefano turned out for Argentina, Colombia and Spain.
That may have been in a different age for the game (and no one is directly comparing Barnes and Anderson to Puskas and Di Stefano) but it is worth pointing out.
It, like it or not, is part of the international footballing landscape.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
