Billy Stark says Scotland have made no bid to lure young Chelsea star Josh McEachran to the national side.
Scots U21s boss adamant Blues youngster is not on their radar
Billy Stark insists Scotland have made no bid to lure young Chelsea star Josh McEachran to the national side.
The 17-year-old midfielder, who was born in Oxford but has family in Campbeltown, Argyll, has been tipped as a future England ace.
He has been capped 11 times at Under 17 level for England and has made one outing for the U19s, suggesting he will soon be called up for Stuart Pearce's U21 side.
Reports have surfaced that Scotland want McEachran to switch allegiance from the Three Lions and join Craig Levein's senior squad, as England-born players such as Matt Gilks and Jamie Mackie have done in the past.
But Scotland U21s boss Stark insists the rising Stamford Bridge star, who has recently broken into Carlo Ancelotti's first-team, has never been approached about donning the Scotland jersey.
"Of course I'm aware of Josh but he's playing for England and there's nothing to suggest he's unhappy with that situation," Stark said in the
Daily Record.
"He's playing for England and that's it as far as I'm concerned. If someone is currently playing for another nation we'd have to be given some encouragement."
Future
McEachran made history last month on his Chelsea first-team debut in their 4-1 UEFA Champions League triumph away to MSK Zilina when he became the first player born after the tournament started on November 25th, 1992 to play in it.
Blues assistant manager Ray Wilkins has been impressed by the youngster's form and is adamant his international future lies with England.
"Listen, as far as I'm concerned Josh has always been English and always will be English," said Wilkins.
"Any talk of Scotland trying to poach him is news to us and you'd think we'd have heard something if that was the case.
"He's an exceptional young man as a footballer and a person and has a chance of being a very good player for England."
