Everton pip Newcastle United to agreement that could impact Harvey Barnes
Everton are enjoying a strong first season at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium home.
David Moyes‘ side currently sit 10th in the Premier League, and are still within reach of the European places should they maintain form over the next few weeks and months.
Everton travel to Fulham on Saturday, before returning to Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday to host Bournemouth.
These coming months are set to be vital for a host of players across the Premier League too, as many will have World Cup plane tickets to punch.
Everton set to play key role in Harvey Barnes’ international future
The Hill Dickinson Stadium opened its doors for the 2025-26 season, handing Everton a state-of-the-art 52,000-plus home.
Everton are set to host 2035 Women’s World Cup games too, as the venue continues to build its reputation as one of the best new sporting amphitheatres around.
And it’s also going to play host to a 2026 World Cup warm-up game next month, as Scotland take on Ivory Coast on 31 March in a friendly.
However, as revealed in a report for the Daily Mail, chief football reporter Craig Hope has stated that Newcastle’s St James’ Park just missed out on hosting the game to Everton’s home.
That could be set to have ramifications on the international future of Magpies winger Harvey Barnes, as Hope reports that the Scottish FA wanted the game to be played at St James’ to form part of their pitch to recruit him.
Indeed, Barnes is eligible to play for both England and Scotland, with the latter understood to be offering a place at the World Cup should he switch his current allegiance from the Three Lions to the Tartan Army.
But the report reveals that Promoters Pitch International opted for Hill Dickinson Stadium to host the friendly instead, throwing a spanner into the works regarding Scotland’s plan to seduce him.
Everton haven’t utilised Hill Dickinson Stadium advantage enough
With Everton now having played 12 Premier League games at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, it’s safe to say that Moyes’ men haven’t harnessed the power of their new home to its full potential just yet.
The Toffees have taken 16 points at home so far this season, with four wins, four draws and four defeats.
On the contrary, their away form is actually slightly better, with 18 points coming on their travels.
So, if Everton are to push on towards the European places in the second half of the season, then they will need to start taking making their Hill Dickinson home a fortress.