Joey Barton has jokingly suggested that Scott McTominay may have chosen Scotland over England because he wants more time off.
McTominay is understood to have opted to represent Scotland instead of England after discussions last week with both Alex McLeish and Gareth Southgate.
The Manchester United midfielder was born in Lancaster but is eligible to represent Scotland as his father hails from Glasgow.
It remains unknown when McTominay will make his Scotland debut but he will certainly receive more game time there than with England, where there is stiffer competition for places in midfield.
Barton, who has one England cap to his name, claimed that McTominay’s decision could have had more to do with a lack of ambition than a burning desire to represent Scotland but went on to give the youngster the benefit of the doubt.
“What’s he playing at? He must have decided he wants all his summers off!” Barton said on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show.
“He’s obviously showed his ambition, hasn’t he? He’s probably realised the weight of playing for England and working every summer, he doesn’t want that.
Should Joe Hart start in Russia? 🤔
Does Lingard make the cut? 🤷♂️With the World Cup just 101 days away, @Joey7Barton tells us who he expects Gareth Southgate to pick when England face Tunisia.
Plus, Joey reveals which 4⃣uncapped players he thinks should be considered… pic.twitter.com/bKIGM6NoeY
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 5, 2018
“Maybe Man United and Fergie have influenced him?
“Scotland have improved to be fair but, look, if he feels more Scottish than English then fair play to the kid.
“It would have been easy, financially, to go in the England side and if you’re in the Manchester United team there’s a good chance you’ll get called up by England – that’s been a route map for a long period, as you see with players like Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
“So fair play to the boy if he feels like a passionate Scotsman, it can only be a good thing for Scotland because he’s a seriously talented player.”
