Anthony Gordon breaks silence on not playing for Scotland and reveals he wouldn't have forgiven himself if he did

In-demand Anthony Gordon admits turning out for Scotland was never an option and it was his life's dream to star for England.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke is an admirer of the Newcastle United winger but the 23-year-old only had eyes for a career with the Three Lions. And the former Everton star admits he would never have forgiven himself if he didn't seize his chance with England. Gordon is in the mix for his first cap against Brazil with Gareth Southgate talking him up with Euro 2024 in view.

Gordon – ahead of the game with Brazil – said: “It was never a thought for me. That’s no disrespect to Scotland, that’s all. I’ve been tunnel-visioned on playing for England since I was five or six years old. Nothing could ever shake that off. I could never forgive myself if I hadn’t got to this point. Like I said, it is just a dream I’ve had from so young so nothing else has ever entered my mind at any time.”

Hampden spies have tried to prise Newcastle stars Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento, Elliott Anderson and Gordon, along with Leeds United wonderkid Archie Gray but John Carver made clear how things work. He said: “I would be very surprised, because loyalty is massive. We are almost settled on what we are going to take away. I would be very surprised if somebody comes out from nowhere. We are more or less settled. Unless we find somebody who is like ‘wow’, an outstanding player. I am not going to go down this street of Anderson and Gordon and all this lot because I have had enough of that, I am sick of talking about that.

“If somebody comes from nowhere I would be very surprised. But we are looking at all the options for now and obviously for the future. “Because we have to take it further again after the Euros. We have had a few