Newcastle midfielder switches allegiance in order to find senior international football

Newcastle United have yet another player looking to put on an accent and pretend to be from somewhere else in order to play international football.

Elliot Anderson was perhaps Newcastle's most high-profile case of a player toying with switching allegiance after doing so once already.

The academy graduate, while born in England and representing England at U16 level, switched to Scotland and played for them up to U21 level before switching back to England again. Now no longer at Newcastle United, Anderson picked up a Player of the Match award along with his goal for England U21s as they beat Azerbaijan 7-0 on Tuesday.

Another Newcastle player with that England/Scotland choice to make is Harvey Barnes who is still eligible to play for Scotland despite having represented England already. (The rules are more like guidelines).

However we're not here to talk about Barnes or Anderson, in fact the latest player to turn their back on their home nation hasn't even got a squad place at Newcastle.

newcastleunited.com

Isaac Hayden has joined Steve McClaren's Jamaica

29-year-old Isaac Hayden didn't manage to find himself a new club in the summer and is now stuck at Newcastle until at least January. However, the former Arsenal man wasn't handed a place in Eddie Howe's squad and has had to train with the reserves.

That hasn't dampened his dreams of representing his country, however, as according to Team Talk, Hayden has switched his allegiance to Jamaica to link up with former Toon boss Steve McClaren.

The Dutchman Englishman recently beat another former Newcastle boss, Steve Bruce, to the role of Jamaica head coach and he's now on a mission to find any players who've ever heard of Jamaica to come and play for the Cool Runnings football team.

Steve McClaren has also called upon Mason Greenwood. Ouch.

Hayden represented England from U16 through to U21 but never made a senior appearance meaning he could still represent Jamaica.

We're not saying that McClaren is desperate but he's also called up Mason Greenwood pending paperwork approval. Hardly a name you'd want representing you.

Hopefully Hayden can find himself a club in January so that he can keep himself match fit for Jamaica, and, you know, ease Newcastle's wage bill.