Thomas Tuchel told he must pick uncapped Premier League star in his first England squad
Ethan Nwaneri must be named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad – he’s outperformed Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish. That’s the view of ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney, who believes the Arsenal starlet is fully deserving of a first senior call-up despite his tender age. Nwaneri has earned rave reviews this term after starring in Bukayo Saka’s absenceGetty Tuchel is preparing for England’s upcoming Nations League clashes with Albania and LatviaGetty The 17-year-old has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season so far – chipping in with eight goals and one assist from 27 games in all competitions. Only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney have scored more goals for a Premier League side before their 18th birthday [nine] than Nwaneri, who has three games to equal or break the record. A natural attacking midfielder, the youngster – who hasn’t even earned an England Under-21 call-up – has thrived since being deployed as a right winger in the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka. It has led to calls that the Hale End starlet – and fellow Arsenal academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly – could be included in Tuchel’s first Three Lions squad. The duo created Champions League history midweek after becoming the first two English teenagers to combine for a goal. With Tuchel to announce his first squad next week ahead of the Nations League clashes against Albania and Latvia on March 21 and March 24, he has been told it’s a ‘sackable offence’ if he doesn’t include Nwaneri. Speaking on talkSPORT, Deeney agreed Nwaneri must be named when asked by co-host Alex Crook whether he should be included, as he said: “Absolutely yes for me. “I think the question in the game was why [Mikel] Arteta didn’t put him in when [Martin] Odegaard was injured earlier in the season. “I felt like he had this confidence, this aura of, ‘Give me the ball,’ I don’t like to compare players – but very much Jack Wilshere. “When Jack Wilshere got into that Arsenal team as a young kid, it was like, ‘Oh my God, he’s running that team already.’ Nwaneri brought up his eighth goal of the season against PSV midweekGetty The teenager could earn an England senior-call up before featuring for the U21s “And I could see that with Nwaneri, I think now the problem is not if he plays, it’s where does he play and who do we move out for him? “He’s been better than Phil Foden this year in terms of over the course of the season, I think he’s been better than Rashford, Grealish. “There’s so many players that you can’t put ahead of him now that used to be shoo-ins. “Cole Palmer has gone off the boil – over the course of the season Cole Palmer has been better – but if you’re Tuchel, and this is the thing I keep asking, what is Tuchel going to do?” Deeney then simply stated that Nwaneri is a ‘shoo-in’ to get in the squad, before he was asked if Lewis-Skelly deserves a place, to which he said yes. He continued: “The problem that is going to come for not only Tuchel but for Arteta is, when Saka is back in a few weeks time, yes Saka has got the legacy, but you’re going to have to keep moving people around now to get this kid in [the line-up], he’s that good of a talent.” Only Kai Havertz and Saka have scored more than Nwaneri for the Gunners this campaign As for Chelsea cult hero Scott Minto, he was also of the opinion that Nwaneri should be called up as he stated he’s simply too good to leave out. He remarked: “This kid is 17 going on 27, and actually physically, he’s not a kid.” Minto added: “An incredible player to the point where it’s a little positive problem that Mikel Arteta has got. “You can’t not bring Saka back when he’s fit, you can’t not play Nwaneri. “He’s one of – if not – Arsenal’s best player right now. So where do you put him? “But in terms of England [call-up], I’m for it. If I were the England manager, I would not only speak to Mikel Arteta, I’d speak to the kid himself. “I’d perhaps even go and speak to his family, get a gauge of what he’s like as a person as well, can he handle it? “Because it is a big jump, but Lamine Yamal [Barcelona, Spain] can be an example, but I think everyone’s different, that’s an incredibly massive talent. “But from what i see on the pitch, all Thomas Tuchel has got to think is the next 18 months and who is going to peak in 18 months – it’s not even about the here and now. “And he looks like he is going to be a key player in the future.” Check out all the best Cheltenham Festival free bets and offers at our dedicated page
Ethan Nwaneri must be named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad – he’s outperformed Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish.
That’s the view of ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney, who believes the Arsenal starlet is fully deserving of a first senior call-up despite his tender age.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season so far – chipping in with eight goals and one assist from 27 games in all competitions.
Only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney have scored more goals for a Premier League side before their 18th birthday [nine] than Nwaneri, who has three games to equal or break the record.
A natural attacking midfielder, the youngster – who hasn’t even earned an England Under-21 call-up – has thrived since being deployed as a right winger in the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka.
It has led to calls that the Hale End starlet – and fellow Arsenal academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly – could be included in Tuchel’s first Three Lions squad.
The duo created Champions League history midweek after becoming the first two English teenagers to combine for a goal.
With Tuchel to announce his first squad next week ahead of the Nations League clashes against Albania and Latvia on March 21 and March 24, he has been told it’s a ‘sackable offence’ if he doesn’t include Nwaneri.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Deeney agreed Nwaneri must be named when asked by co-host Alex Crook whether he should be included, as he said: “Absolutely yes for me.
“I think the question in the game was why [Mikel] Arteta didn’t put him in when [Martin] Odegaard was injured earlier in the season.
“I felt like he had this confidence, this aura of, ‘Give me the ball,’ I don’t like to compare players – but very much Jack Wilshere.
“When Jack Wilshere got into that Arsenal team as a young kid, it was like, ‘Oh my God, he’s running that team already.’
“And I could see that with Nwaneri, I think now the problem is not if he plays, it’s where does he play and who do we move out for him?
“He’s been better than Phil Foden this year in terms of over the course of the season, I think he’s been better than Rashford, Grealish.
“There’s so many players that you can’t put ahead of him now that used to be shoo-ins.
“Cole Palmer has gone off the boil – over the course of the season Cole Palmer has been better – but if you’re Tuchel, and this is the thing I keep asking, what is Tuchel going to do?”
Deeney then simply stated that Nwaneri is a ‘shoo-in’ to get in the squad, before he was asked if Lewis-Skelly deserves a place, to which he said yes.
He continued: “The problem that is going to come for not only Tuchel but for Arteta is, when Saka is back in a few weeks time, yes Saka has got the legacy, but you’re going to have to keep moving people around now to get this kid in [the line-up], he’s that good of a talent.”
As for Chelsea cult hero Scott Minto, he was also of the opinion that Nwaneri should be called up as he stated he’s simply too good to leave out.
He remarked: “This kid is 17 going on 27, and actually physically, he’s not a kid.”
Minto added: “An incredible player to the point where it’s a little positive problem that Mikel Arteta has got.
“You can’t not bring Saka back when he’s fit, you can’t not play Nwaneri.
“He’s one of – if not – Arsenal’s best player right now. So where do you put him?
“But in terms of England [call-up], I’m for it. If I were the England manager, I would not only speak to Mikel Arteta, I’d speak to the kid himself.
“I’d perhaps even go and speak to his family, get a gauge of what he’s like as a person as well, can he handle it?
“Because it is a big jump, but Lamine Yamal [Barcelona, Spain] can be an example, but I think everyone’s different, that’s an incredibly massive talent.
“But from what i see on the pitch, all Thomas Tuchel has got to think is the next 18 months and who is going to peak in 18 months – it’s not even about the here and now.
“And he looks like he is going to be a key player in the future.”
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