SAM Gallagher and Matt Targett will tonight swap the dark blue of Scotland for the white kit and Three Lions of England.
The Saints pair both appeared for Scotland’s under-19s in a friendly against Iceland at Stirling last September.
Centre half Targett started the 1-1 draw while striker Gallagher came on as a second half substitute.
Now, though, both are preparing to make their England under-19 debuts against Turkey at Chester alongside Saints colleagues Calum Chambers and Harrison Reed.
If the Iceland game had been a competitive match, Gallagher and Targett would not have been allowed to change allegiance and represent England.
Scottish FA performance director Mark Wotte, the former Saints boss, and Under-19s coach Ricky Sbragia – who introduced Devon-born Gallagher into his youth set-up two years ago – had been hopeful Gallagher would stay with the Scots.
Sbragia and Gallagher spoke a few days after Gallagher had made an impressive first Premier League start against Arsenal in January.
At the time Sbragia was confident Gallagher could step up to Billy Stark’s Under-21 side when the Scots face Hungary at Tannadice tonight.
Back in November, Gallagher gave no impression of being unsettled ahead of a Scotland get-together.
He said at the time: “I’m happy with Scotland. I would just like to kick on and try to work my way up the age groups there.”
But Gallagher’s progress at Saints – he has made one start and nine sub appearances this term – appears to have changed his mind.
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