Home Nations Do Battle Again.

Last updated : 24 April 2007 By @blades_mad1889

Chris 'Stretch' Armstrong. + or X is the argument!
Scotland manager Alex McLeish plans to pick Sheffield United defender Chris Armstrong in future Scotland international fixtures.

But, the Englisg FA (EFA) claims that the former Oldham Athletic player can not be picked after he took part in the Three Lions England U-20 team against China five years ago in the Toulon tournament.

But the Scottish FA (SFA) protest that the competition wasn't an official FIFA event and can call up the defender if required.

Chris Armstrong has been an essential part in Neil Warnock's attempt to keep the Blades away from Championship football, and after wating the 25 year old McLeish has pondered to call him up to the Tartan Army. Armstrong was born in Newcastle but does have Scottish roots.

An English FA spokesman said: "Armstrong cannot play for Scotland.

"There are circumstances whereby players can change nationalities but the rules regarding this matter altered a few years ago.

"If you are under 21 years of age and if you have dual nationality - which in this case is not an issue because he will hold a British passport - then you can switch providing you have not been involved in certain representative games.

"But clearly Armstrong is over 21 now so this does not apply. Scotland would not be able to name him."

However the SFA feel that this is not the case. Spokesman Andy Mitchell said: "It all boils down to the interpretation of what is an official tournament.

"We would argue that the Toulon Tournament is not an official competition in that it is by invitation only and the invitations appear to be based on the attractiveness to TV audiences.

"If there was any dispute in the future the matter would be resolved by FIFA's player status committee."