Bardsley for Scotland?!

['Chopper']

KRIS BOYDand Darren Fletcher have been badgering Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley to declare himself a Scot.

The full-back, who had a spell on loan at Rangers last season, qualifies to play for George Burley's team because his dad, Tony, was born in Glasgow. But he could choose England or Republic of Ireland.

The former Manchester United man is playing regular Premier League football after his £2million switch to the Black Cats last month. And former team-mates Boyd and Fletcher have been trying to convince Bardsley, 22, to come out and say he wants to wear the dark blue.

His father said: "Phil still keeps in touch with some of the boys at Rangers and is close friends with Darren from their time at United. He and Kris have been on to him about playing for Scotland. When Walter Smith was Scotland manager he spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about Phil.

"Now he is playing at Sunderland on a regular basis, Scotland are keen on him again.I'd obviously like to see him play for Scotland but the decision is down to him."

Bardsley fell foul of the Paul Le Guen regime at Ibrox. He was axed by the Frenchman for disobeying a no-tackling rule in a training session.

He said: "International football is a big stepping stone and I would have to have a serious think about it."

Maybe as back-up for Alan Hutton but not 1st choice! Why not give him a chance?

[Villa]

In all fairness he may as well - can't see him getting in the England squad

He looks average to me - looked at him closely when he was at Villa for a bit - i didn't see much to rave about from him to be fair to the lad

[John_NUFC]

He's n good enough for England as Villa said and I feel he could do a decent Job for Scotland as he is at their kind of level imo.

[ggmu]

id rather start on scotland
then warm the bench for rooney any day

['Chopper']

Originally Posted by John_NUFC

he could do a decent Job for Scotland as he is at their kind of level imo.

What?! "their level"? You mean 14th in the world, three places behind the oh, so, superior England?!

['Chopper']

Originally Posted by ggmu

id rather start on scotland
then warm the bench for rooney any day

What a waste of a post that was!

Bardsley doesn't play for United! He's a Sunderland player now so how could he "warm the bench for rooney"? And since when did Rooney play right back?

[Villa]

Originally Posted by 'Chopper'

What a waste of a post that was!

Bardsley doesn't play for United! He's a Sunderland player now so how could he "warm the bench for rooney"? And since when did Rooney play right back?

Exactly lol

Another typical responce from a glory hunter - cleary shows they havn't stepped a foot inside the Prawn Sarnie dome

['Chopper']

If he was interested he'd have made contact with Burnley at the slightest suggestion that he might get an international call up. I don't think he wants to play for Scotland and don't think he'd get too many caps with Hutton, Whittaker and Neilson all better than him (in my humble opinion!), but is he good enough to play for England?

['Chopper']

IRELAND coach Giovanni Trappatoni has sent his assistant Marco Tardelli to hold talks with Phil Bardsley in a bid to get the Sunderland defender, who is also eligible to represent Scotland, to play for the Republic.

He might get more games playing for the Republic as I think he'd be, at best, third choice for Scotland.