England Must Use “Outstanding” Liverpool Star Now to Avoid Switching International Allegiance
Curtis Jones has once again been called up to represent England, yet the Liverpool midfielder is still awaiting his official debut for the Three Lions.
If he remains unused in upcoming matches, another nation might step in to offer him an opportunity on the international stage.
The England national team faces a pressing need to feature Jones in a match to prevent the possibility of him opting to play for Nigeria. Jones has shown immense potential, which could make him an appealing prospect for the Nigerian team if England doesn’t act quickly.
Last year, Jones played a pivotal role in England’s Under-21 European Championship success, scoring the decisive goal in the final against Spain.
His continued strong performances have been evident in the 2024-25 season, where he has appeared 12 times under Liverpool’s new head coach, Arne Slot, and recently scored a match-winning goal against Chelsea at Anfield. This impressive form has led to yet another call-up to the England senior squad.
Jones has had several close calls with the senior England team. He was initially selected ahead of Euro 2024 but missed out when the final squad was reduced to 26 players by head coach Gareth Southgate.
In September, he was once again named in the squad, only to withdraw due to injury. His name appeared in the squad again in October; however, he remained an unused substitute against Greece and later left the team following the birth of his first child before the Finland match.
Despite these setbacks, Jones is still waiting for his senior debut. With a fresh call-up to face Greece and the Republic of Ireland next week, it’s crucial for England to give him playing time to deter Nigeria from making their own approach.
Jones is reportedly eligible to represent Nigeria through his grandmother, who is Nigerian. Speculation has circulated regarding Nigeria’s interest in persuading him to switch allegiance, though no formal discussions have emerged to date.
Nonetheless, with recent injuries among England’s key players and Jones’ excellent form, this upcoming match may finally see him step onto the field for the senior national team. His Liverpool teammate, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is also expected to feature.
Lee Carsley, currently managing the squad until Thomas Tuchel assumes the role next year, recently praised Jones’ development and contributions. He shared these sentiments with reporters.
“Curtis is an all-round player. He plays in various positions and he’s a player I highly rate. He’s probably one of the best players I’ve worked with in terms of his ability.
“He’s shown a real consistent level of performance, playing every week, now. Most weeks he’s at a really high level and he’s shown he can score goals. He’s a player we’ve had a lot of success with working in the past.”
Liverpool legend called him outstanding after netting his first Premier League goal of the season against Chelsea: “Jones was brilliant, he was outstanding,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports. ‘He still hasn’t really made himself first choice but what a performance.
“He’s got to keep playing like that. He’s up against two top players in there. I keep thinking will Slot go back in for [Martin] Zubimendi, when you see performances like that I’m thinking no.”
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