GARETH SOUTHGATE could be handed a major England headache ahead of Euro 2024… and not just when trimming down his squad.
The Three Lions boss will be trusted with the difficult task of picking 23 players for the European Championship finals in Germany as England bid to win their first major senior men’s title since 1966.
However, a number of rising stars could cause a ruckus by switching international allegiance before the summer rolls around.
Fifa rules on international representation, which were updated in 2020, say players can switch nationalities as long as they have played no more than three senior matches before the age of 21.
There also needs to be a period of three years in between a player’s last appearance for the nation they want to switch from, with none of those games coming in World Cup or Continental finals such as the Euros.
Players under the age of 21 are free to switch if they hold the nationality of the country they wish to play for.
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Even if they did not so previously, a player can switch if they were under the age of 21 when they featured for the country they want to change from.
England have lost players such as former Arsenal ace Folarin Balogun to switches of allegiance, with the former England Under-21 ace now representing the USA.
Rising Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo is one such star who could switch from England with no issues.
The 18-year-old – who is in line for his first England start against Belgium – is eligible to play for Ghana despite playing for the Three Lions in Saturday’s friendly defeat to Brazil.
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Fellow debutant Anthony Gordon, 23, could move to a Euro 2024 rival and sensationally line up against England if he were to switch to Scotland before the tournament.
Tartan Army boss Steve Clarke is said to be keeping tabs on three stars, with Gordon joined by Newcastle team-mate Elliot Anderson, 21, and 18-year-old Leeds United prodigy Archie Gray.
Although Anderson was called up to the seniors by Clarke last year, having switched between Scotland and England youth teams, but was forced to pull out due to injury.
Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer, 21, has two Three Lions appearances to his name and is thus another star with a looming threat switch due to his eligibility to play for Saint Kitts and Nevis through his father.
England Under-21 regulars Morgan Gibbs-White, 24, and Curtis Jones, 23, are also free to change countries, with respective switches to Jamaica and Nigeria on the cards.
Of course, given England’s somewhat limited options in midfield it would be easy to imagine pathways for the pair opening up in the near future.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
