Danny Higginbotham: Gibraltar availability confirmed by defender

Chester defender Danny Higginbotham has made himself available to play international football for Gibraltar.

The British Overseas Territory was recently granted full membership of Uefa and they are set to feature in the qualifying competition for Euro 2016.

Higginbotham, 34, qualifies for Gibraltar via his grandmother.

"I can confirm in principle that I have agreed to represent Gibraltar and am looking forward to the adventure," tweeted the former Stoke City man.

Higginbotham's mother is Spanish but was married in Gibraltar, while his grandmother also has connections there and his uncle, Allen Bula, is head coach of the national side.

Gibraltar has a population of around 30,000 and is the smallest of Uefa's members.

Uefa president Michel Platini has confirmed they will be kept apart from Spain in any qualifying groups because of the ongoing dispute regarding who controls the territory, which has been under British rule since 1713.

Higginbotham has made more than 400 senior appearances during his career, including 210 games in the Premier League for Manchester United, Derby, Southampton, Sunderland and Stoke.

He has played four times for Chester since joining on a free transfer from Sheffield United in August.