EPL striker ready to switch allegiance to Scotland speaks out after no call-up

STEVE CLARKE is due to name his Scotland squad for the latest round of Nations League fixtures on Monday.

Last time out for the games against Croatia and Portugal there were five uncapped players among the group – and there could be more to follow this month.

SunSport broke the news back in July that Ipswich Town star George Hirst was ready to switch allegiance from England to Scotland, qualifying to do so via the grandparent rule.

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That was on the back of the injury Lyndon Dykes sustained that ruled him out of the Euros, with Che Adams starting all three games in Germany but failing to score.

Tommy Conway, Lewis Morgan and Lawrence Shankland are the main options behind Dykes and Adams, with Kevin Nisbet given a recall last month after finding the net on loan at Aberdeen.

Dykes and Adams have nine and six goals for Scotland respectively but between the other six, they have just FOUR goals to their name.

Hirst bagged his first Premier League goal on Saturday against Ipswich.

He scored seven last season to help fire the Tractor Boys from the Championship to the Prem.

Hirst was asked about his potential Scotland chances, having not been called up to the senior side since the news broke that he was up for turning out in dark blue.

He said: “We will have to see if there is a call first coming or not. I don’t know. I can’t answer that just now.

“That is something for the future. I don’t know if that is tomorrow or five years down the line.

“It is not something I have thought about, if I am being honest. I only got in the team last week against Brentford.

“All my energy up to that point had been getting in the team. From then on in, it is about scoring goals and trying to stay in the team, however, which way.

“It is something I am never going to rule out. Everybody wants to play at the highest level possible wherever that is.

“Right now, I wish I could say more but there is nothing more to say. I will keep doing all I can here and see where that takes me.”

Hirst came through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday but failed to break through there and moved to Belgian Second Division side OH Leuven.

He was then snapped up by current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers when he was at Leicester City but spent the majority of his time in the Midlands on loan at other clubs.

After spells at Rotherham, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers he joined Ipswich, initially on loan, in January 2023.

The move was made permanent in the summer and he hasn’t looked back since.

Hirst had played for England between Under-17 and Under-20 level and qualifies for Scotland through his father’s side, with his paternal grandfather born here.

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