A sense of pride and achievement should accompany a first call-up to a senior national team yet it planted a seed of doubt in Elliot Anderson. Two years on and that seed has borne fruit for England, while adding to Scotland’s regret.
It was August 2023 when Anderson was named in the Scotland squad for the first time. An international debut beckoned for the youngster from Whitley Bay, who is eligible to play for Scotland through his grandmother, in the following month’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus and the friendly with England at Hampden Park. “He had a little think about choosing between Scotland and England,” the manager, Steve Clarke, said at the time.“We had some good discussions with the boy and his family and he has chosen to come with us, which is good for us now and certainly good for us in the future.” Anderson would never come good for Scotland, as it transpired.
