Scotland boss Steve Clarke is keeping tabs on Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson.
The Whitley Bay youngster has already been capped by Scotland Under-19s but England are also monitoring his progress and could, in theory, call him up to join either their Under-19 or Under-21 set-up.
But the Scots are already aware of England's interest and want to offer the 18-year-old a possible path to senior international football in the long-term.
Anderson made his debut for Newcastle in the FA Cup third round against Arsenal in the 2-0 defeat earlier this month after being added to the senior squad this season.
Scottish FA scout and ex-Newcastle midfielder Kevin Dillon was in the stands at Bramall Lane to keep an eye on Anderson and Ryan Fraser but the teenager didn't get on and the winger was sent off in the first half.
The sight of Clarke or former Newcastle coach John Carver - now assistant boss for Scotland - would indicate that Anderson is close to a senior cap.
A call-up to Scotland's next batch of World Cup qualifiers in March seems unlikely for Anderson at the moment and the Under-21s seems like the next step in his fledgeling career.
Scotland will face Austria, Israel and the Faroe Isles in the space of six days at the end of March and Fraser is being lined up for a recall after missing the dramatic win over Serbia in November to qualify for the Euros next summer.
