Truly International Clarets

At the moment we have a Latvian striker, Gatis Kalninš on trail up in Scotland and he looks set to play in at least the two remaining Scottish tour games against Partick Thistle tonight and St Johnstone on Wednesday night.

Even if we dont sign the player our current squad is well represented on the International scene and we probably have more countries represented than ever before.

In addition of course to many English players, we now have a healthy Scottish connection with Alexander, Caldwell and McDonald adding to the Jocks contingent under Coyle & Stewart.

Ireland both north and south are also reperesented with likely more to follow with Billy Bingham on board. Step forward though Duff, Jones, Paterson and McCann.

Strangely though since losing Danny Coyne, Wales are not represented at the moment.

So that's the British & Irish countries covered what about Europe?

Well Scandinavia is well represented with Jensen(Denmark), Gudjonsson(Iceland) and now Kalvenes(Norway)

Eastern Europe are represented by Gabor Kiraly(Hungary) and Berisha (Albania).

Holland and new boy, Van der Schaaf can be added to list and perhaps the most exotic of all, Diego Penny from Peru.

You could arguably even mention Nigeria and Ade Akinbiyi. Well he was born in Hackney, but does have one Nigerian cap due to the family connections.

Will we soon also have some players in the side with an American twang? The intention to get into bed with, and eventually partner a US club would suggest that could be the case. A number of US trialists were also looked at by Owen Coyle during the recent US Tour to North Carolina and Minnesota.

The youth development side also have scouts out worldwide looking for talent, so the squad could have even more of an International flavour in years to come.

I am not going to be an anorak and check back to see if we have ever had more countries represented by our players in the squad at the same time but I am pretty sure we probably haven't! Tell me if you think I am wrong.

What a far cry from my era of the 60s and 70s, even the 80s and 90s.

I am sure this can only be a good thing at our level providing we dont ever do an Arsenal and field a team without any Brits in it whatsover!

Do Eskimo's play football?




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