I could have been playing for Scotland at Euro 2024 instead reveals England star

CONOR GALLAGHER has revealed he could have been lining up for Scotland on Friday night – if they hadn’t snubbed him as a teenager.

The England midfielder, 24, is eligible for the Scots through his grandfather, as well as the Republic of Ireland on his dad’s side.

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Scotland had the chance to nab the Chelsea star nine years ago, after England had deemed him not good enough.

But they missed their shot after coming to the same conclusion following a trial.

Gallagher said: “When I was 15 or 16 I wasn’t good enough for the England youth team.

“So I went to train with one of the Scotland teams to see what I was like, and I wasn’t good enough for them either!

“I worked my way back into the England youth set-up and was lucky enough to stay in.”

Amazingly, Gallagher went on to win the Under-17 World Cup with

England just two years later, alongside current senior team-mates Marc Guehi and Phil Foden.

Gallagher’s call-up to that 2017 tournament in India was his first of any kind with England.

His development had been impacted by a knee condition called Osgood-Schlatter syndrome.

Chelsea clearly were not convinced as they only offered him a scholarship, rather than a pre-pro contract like many other starlets — just as they did with Reece James.

But Gallagher, who also had heart surgery to correct an irregular beat aged 18, proved to be a late bloomer.

He was Blues’ academy player of the year for the 2018-19 campaign, and then worked his way up the pyramid with successful loans to Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace.

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Since then he’s kicked on to become a key player at Chelsea, captaining the side in the absence of James last term, and is a regular in the England squad.

Gallagher went to the Qatar World Cup two years ago, but did not play a single minute.

But at this summer’s Euros, he should see plenty of action and is Trent Alexander-Arnold’s biggest competition for a starting berth against Serbia on Sunday.

Gareth Southgate highlighted his side’s poor work out of possession after last Friday’s shock 1-0 defeat to Iceland in their final warm-up.

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It boosted Gallagher’s case for inclusion given his work-rate off the ball is his biggest strength, even if Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold is favourite to start alongside Declan Rice.

Southgate previously described him as a “scurrier” for his ability to get around the pitch.

Gallagher added: “I suppose it is a compliment! Part of my game is just working as hard as possible and doing everything I can for the team.

“Trent is a top player. Everyone in the squad has their own strengths and the way they can improve the team and strengthen the team in their own way.

“I’ll always be ready to start if needed.”

Go Ballistic – SunSport’s new podcast

SUNSPORT is going Ballistic with the launch of our brilliant new podcast.

Every day of the Euros host Roger Hannah will bring you all the latest news and views from the Scotland camp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

He will be joined by our men in Germany – Bill Leckie, Robert Grieve and Derek McGregor.

And there will also be special guest appearances from our Euro 2024 columnist Gordon Strachan, regular columnist Kris Boyd and bookie basher Jim Delahunt.

You can watch every episode on our website or our brand new YouTube channel.

What are you waiting for, it’s time to Go Ballistic!

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