Howard scored the winning goal to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup

Barnsley's Brian Howard is hoping he can still play for Scotland despite an ineligibility ruling by Fifa.

Howard misses out as he did not contact Fifa over his availability for Scotland selection before he was 21.

"There is still hope and I believe something can still be done," the Tykes captain said.

"The SFA called to say I had made the squad for the Croatia game. I was delighted - then I was told of my ineligibility and I was gutted."

Scotland manager George Burley admits that it is also disappointing for the national side, as he was intending to involve the Tykes FA Cup scoring hero and club captain.

"We were contacted by Brian's agent a few months ago, I went down to look at him and he impressed me. But unfortunately he doesn't qualify for Scotland.

"It's a big disappointment for Brian as he was so keen to play for Scotland, and he's a good player.

"We've been told that because he played for England in the Toulon Tournament when he was 16, a Fifa-registered tournament, he is ineligible," Burley told the Daily Record.

"This is all a bit new to me and it can get a bit confusing. But at this moment in time it does seem that there is nothing else we can do.

"Brian has dual nationality but we were informed that if he had wanted to play for Scotland and not England then he had to apply before he was 21.

"Obviously he didn't know that at the time."