Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has been challenged to win a senior England call-up after Kobbie Mainoo’s promotion to Gareth Southgate’s squad
Lee Carsley has challenged Harvey Elliott to put himself in the frame for a senior England call-up after Kobbie Mainoo’s swift promotion.
The Liverpool midfielder has remained with the Under-21s during the March international break, scoring a brace in the young Lions’ 5-1 win in Azerbaijan on Friday. In contrast, Manchester United star Mainoo, who had initially been handed his first Young Lions call-up this month, was promoted straight into Gareth Southgate’s senior squad and made his full international debut against Brazil on Saturday.
Fellow England Under-21s stars Rico Lewis, and James Trafford have also been promoted to Southgate’s squad ahead of their friendly against Belgium on Tuesday night, joining the likes of Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Jarrad Branthwaite in stepping up from Carsley’s ranks.
With the European Championships in Germany looming in the summer, the March international break had offered Southgate the last opportunity to look at new players ahead of the tournament. But despite Elliott’s impressive form for Liverpool this season, returning three goals and six assists from 41 appearances, the 20-year-old is yet to earn senior international recognition to the bemusement of many Reds supporters.
But if Elliott maintains his such displays, England Under-21s manager Carsley believes he will soon come into senior consideration.
“I’m not sure (how close Harvey is),” he admitted ahead of the Young Lions’ European Championships qualifier at home to Luxembourg. “But if he’s playing week in, week out for Liverpool, scoring and assisting, being really important in that team, then he will put himself in the frame.
“It’s a big ask (to force your way into the squad for the Euros). If you’re playing week in, week out in the Premier League at a really high level, then you’re always in with a chance. You’re generally only one or two injuries away from getting the opportunity. The main thing is that they’re putting themselves in the race.”
Elliott made headlines after the Under-21s’ win over Azerbaijan for wearing an upturned collar, covering the altered St. George’s flag in the process which has faced widespread backlash following its unveiling by Nike last week.
We understands that the midfielder’s fashion choice was not a statement against the kit, with the 20-year-old oblivious to the media attention it had gained when asked by England staff members.
Carsley would also play down the incident, pointing out that Elliott has predominantly turned up his collar when wearing such a shirt in the past.
“No, (I’ve not spoken to him about it). The fact that we’ve now got collars on the shirt means you can turn them up if you want,” he said. “I noticed Harvey had collars on the shirt at Blackburn (when on loan). It was no more than that.”
