CHARLIE MULGREW could have played for America.

But, Uncle Sam never came calling, and the Celt will be happy to pick up his 10th cap for Scotland against Croatia next week.

One of his grannies was born in the United States, so the way would have been open for him to slip on the Stars and Stripes rather than the Dark Blue.

"It was a rumour for a while (that he could have played for the US)," he confirmed. "I don't know what the ins and out of it are, but I was born in Scotland and always have been Scottish, so there was no chance I was going to play for someone else.

"I have not spoken to anyone in America about this.

"Apart from my Gran having been born in America, I have only been there twice. My heart has always been with Scotland and I'd always have chosen Scotland."

One member of the clan is making a name for himself as a sportsman across the Atlantic, however.

"I have a cousin who plays lacrosse for a college team and does all right at that," Mulgrew said.

At a time when eligibility is again a hot topic - England are trying to lay claim to Manchester United wonder kid, Adnan Januzaj - Mulgrew sticks to his solid beliefs.

"If you are here and playing for Scotland, you are Scottish," said the man who regularly shares a dressing room at Hampden with a clutch of players who were born outwith these borders.

"As soon as I see someone with a Scotland jersey on, they are Scottish to me."