KEVIN PIETERSEN and Jack Wilshere became embroiled in a Twitter spat last night as the row over foreign-born sportsmen representing England intensified.

In the build-up to England’s crucial double-header against Montenegro and Poland, Wilshere hit out at the idea that Manchester United rising star Adnan Januzaj could one day don the Three Lions.

The 18-year-old, who scored twice on his full debut for Manchester United against Sunderland at the weekend, was born in Belgium and could represent either Turkey, Serbia or Kosovo – but he would also be eligible to play for England if he remained in the country for the next five years.

It is understood that Januzaj will not make a decision on his international future until he is playing regular first-team football, and that any decision would be made in consultation with his father.

‘‘The only people who should play for England are English people,’’ Wilshere said.

‘‘If you live in England for five years it doesn’t make you English.’’ Those comments clearly have not gone down well with England star batsman Pietersen.

Pietersen was born in South Africa, but has played 99 Tests for England after qualifying to play for the country through his English mother.

The three-time Ashes winning batsman is so proud of representing England that he has the Three Lions emblem tattooed on his left arm.

The 33-year-old reeled off a number of star sportsmen who represent the country despite being born abroad as evidence that foreigners can play for their adopted country with pride.

Pietersen tweeted: ‘‘Jack- Wilshere – interested to know how you define foreigner...?

Would that include me, (Andrew) Strauss, (Jonathan) Trott, (Matthew) Prior, Justin Rose, (Chris) Froome, Mo Farah?’ Wilshere: “If you live in England for five years it doesn’t make you English.”

􀁧 Pietersen: “Jack Wilshere – interested to know how you define foreigner...?

Would that include me, Strauss, Trott, Prior, Justin Rose, Froome, Mo Farah?”

Wilshere tried to defend his comments by responding with: “KP24 With all due respect Mr Pietersen the question was about Football!

Cricket, cycling, Athletics is not my field!’’ That did not satisfy Pietersen, however, who hit back with: ‘‘JackWilshere same difference.. It’s about representing your country! IN ANY SPORT!’’ Wilshere again tried to play down the row: ‘‘KP24 I agree that’s exactly what i was saying....’’ Wilshere claimed earlier in the day that his press conference quotes had been misinterpreted.

And late last night on Twitter he attempted to defuse the row, saying: “To be clear, never said ‘born in England’ – I said English people should play for England.

‘‘Great respect for people like KP (Kevin Pietersen), Mo Farah and Wilf Zaha – they make the country proud.

‘‘My view on football – going to a new country when ur an adult, & because u can get a passport u play 4 that national team – I disagree.

‘‘Just saying my opinion, everyone is entitled to theirs.

Can’t wait for Friday night...’’ The debate about sportsmen playing for England despite being born in a different country is nothing new, and Pietersen’s broadside demonstrates just how much of a sensitive subject it remains.

The England cricket team has regularly been populated with players from all four corners of the globe.

Allan Lamb, Nasser Hussain and Robin Smith were all born outside of these shores while, as Pietersen points out, current Test stars Jonathan Trott and Matthew Prior both hail from South Africa.

The England rugby union and league sides have routinely selected players who come from abroad.

But in football, the tact is slightly different.

Mikel Arteta, Manuel Almunia and Carlo Cudicini have all been eligible to play for England in the past, but the England squad has been strong enough to cope without them.

The fact that so few English players are coming through the ranks now means the idea of Januzaj turning out for his newly-adopted country is not as crazy an idea as it once may have seemed.