The Latest Batch of Scottish Stars Plying Their Trade in England

The Latest Batch of Scottish Stars Plying Their Trade in England

Scottish footballers have a long history of success in England. From the beginnings of organised football in the 19th century, English clubs have imported players from over the border to strengthen their squads.

This was seen when Preston North End, one of the top clubs of the time, signed several Scottish players to further their chances.

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Blackburn Rovers followed Preston North End’s example and also hired several Scottish players. Names such as John Inglis, Jimmy Douglas and Hugh McIntyre had a significant bearing on Blackburn’s subsequent success in winning three FA Cups from 1884-1886.

Preston North End also delivered a string of success thanks in part to their strong Scottish contingent.

The team from Lancashire won the first English Football League in 1888 without losing a single game. They followed this in 1889 by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to claim the FA Cup. 

Preston North End’s core was made up of players recruited from Scotland. Both theirs and Blackburn’s success proves what a sound strategy scouting players from Scotland can be.

Scottish Players Currently Playing in England

The latest group of Scottish footballers making their mark in England include players at top English clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Scottish players doing well at the moment for club and country include John McGinn at Aston Villa. First signing with the Birmingham club in 2018, McGinn has been an important factor in the club’s recent success. First playing for St Mirren and then Hibs, McGinn is now at the top of his game and proving to be a big success in England.

The Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is another Scottish player making waves in England. The 24-year-old first signed with the North London club in 2019 for a reported £25 million. This is the largest sum of money ever paid for a Scottish player.

Many expect Tierney to get even better. Arsenal fans tip him as a future captain, with the player showing off a determination and strength of character vital to leadership.

Another defender winging heaps of praise for his showings in England is the Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson. The player originally from Glasgow signed a long-term deal with the Premiership club for an initial £8 million. 

Robertson was a part of the Champion’s League winning side that beat Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 and played the full ninety minutes.  Robertson has been previously hailed by ex-England defender Phil Neville as the best left-back in the world. 

This experience and high stature in the game has led to Robertson skippering the national side.

The winger Ryan Fraser currently plays for Newcastle United and Scotland. Fraser has a wealth of experience thanks to moving down to the then League One side AFC Bournemouth from Aberdeen in 2013. Fraser made over 180 appearances for Bournemouth before signing with Newcastle in 2020 on a five-year contract.  He scored on his debut in the 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup final.

The West Ham coach David Moyes, another Scotsman who has made a big impression on English football, recently paid tribute to the players. He believes that the Premier League’s Scottish contingent has brought new interest in Scottish footballing talent.

 As we have seen, there is nothing new in this. Moyes agrees with this, citing the fact that over the years there have been many Scottish players who have performed well in England

The Effect on the National Team

There are a current total of nine Scottish internationals currently playing in England. With Scotland looking to make their first appearance in a World Cup for 20 years, the influence of well-travelled players has never been more important.

There has been some debate about how to include both Tierney and Robertson in the Scottish defence as both are left-sided.

National coach Steve Clarke looks to have resolved that problem of riches by switching the formation to allow both players starting positions. This is excellent news for Scotland who are now hoping to build on recent good form and reach the next World Cup.

The success of qualifying for the Euro 2020 tournament showcased the talents of the current crop of Scottish players to the world.

The side reached the group stages of Euro 2020 in the summer. Most notable of their three games was the goalless draw against England at Wembley.

This impressive result boosted the side’s confidence. Scottish fans can now look forward to the country being just two games away from qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

If they are to achieve this accolade, players like McGinn, Tierney, Robertson and many others plying their trade in England are bound to have a say in the matter.