Scotland boss Steve Clarke is confident that Ipswich Town striker won’t get cold feet over switch
- George Hirst, 26, was supposed to be in national squad named on Tuesday for the Nations League double header with Greece
- Necessary paperwork allowing him to switch allegiance from England to Scots did not come through in time
- Clarke has no fears that the player, who is eligible through his paternal grandfather, will have second thoughts about turning out for Scotland
Scotland manager Steve Clarke is confident Ipswich Town striker George Hirst won’t turn his back on a call-up to his squad.
Clarke had planned to include the 26-year-old in the group he named on Tuesday for the UEFA Nations League play-off matches against Greece later this month.
A delay in the Scottish FA securing the necessary paperwork to permit a switch in allegiance for Sheffield-born Hirst, who has represented England from under-17 to under-20 level, forced Clarke to leave him out.
The son of former England striker David Hirst, he is eligible to play for Scotland through his paternal grandfather.
Clarke’s previous attempt to cap a player in similar circumstances backfired. Elliot Anderson, then with Newcastle United, was included in the Scotland squad for friendlies with Cyprus and England in August 2023 but withdrew injured after initially reporting for duty.
The midfielder, who has since made a £35million move to Nottingham Forest, later revealed he was committing his international future to England for whom he has since played at under-21 level.
George HIrst of Ipswich was supposed to be in Clarke’s Scotland squad for Greece
Striker Hirst caught the eye when he scored in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest
HIrst is mobbed by his Ipswich team-mates after his goal against Forest earlier this month
Clarke was at the cup tie to watch Hirst but has been unable to call him up for now
Ironically, Anderson was in the Forest side earlier this month who played Ipswich in the FA Cup, a match attended by Clarke who saw Hirst score for the Tractor Boys.
Having spoken to Hirst, Clarke has no fears he will have cold feet about playing for Scotland.
‘George will come if we get the paperwork through,’ said Clarke. ‘If we had got it through for this camp, he would have been in this squad.
‘He wants to play international football. We offer him that chance. You can never say 100 per cent but I’ll say I’m 99 per cent convinced that, as and when George is selected for the squad, he will turn up.
‘We had our first conversation about a month ago. He comes across as a very nice person. He wants to be here.
‘It’s possible he could still be added to this squad if the paperwork goes through.
‘George is someone we have had in mind for a few months. I’ve watched him recently. He is in and out of the Ipswich team, he has played in the cup games.
‘He scored against Forest and I was spotted on the telly at the game. It didn’t take a genius to work out who I was there to watch because he was the only one on the pitch qualified to play for Scotland.
‘He is a player who would help give us more depth to that striker position if we can do it.’
