They want any footballer who has spent five or more years in education under the age of 16 in one of the Home Nations to become eligible to represent that country.

Initial talks took place between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Holland last month.

SFA president George Peat told the Scottish Daily Mail: “We are looking at it to apply to those who have been in Scottish education for four or five years before the school leaving age – which would be 16 – and then became British passport holders.

“Essentially, these people regard themselves as Scottish.

“England were at the meeting in Holland but, unfortunately, the FA‘s representative did not have the authority for the issue we were discussing. They took it back to the FA.

“I‘ve no doubt it will be raised on an informal basis when all four Home Nations gather in Northern Ireland.”

Meanwhile, Alan Hutton has given Scotland boss George Burley hope that he could take part in next month‘s World Cup qualifier against Holland after all.

The Tottenham right-back‘s hopes were all but written off after undergoing surgery on a fractured foot, which has kept him out of action for three months.

But he told the Daily Record: “I’m absolutely desperate to play against Holland because it’s a massive game for the country.

“I definitely want to be there and if I’m honest, I am kind of aiming for that. If training goes well and everything goes to plan, I would like to think that I could make it.”