Newcastle United defender Federico Fernandez has insisted that team mate Jamaal Lascelles is good enough for an England call up despite missing out again over the international break.
The 6ft 2in [Source: Transfermarkt] saw his claims for a Three Lions shirt go ignored once more as Gareth Southgate selected the likes of James Tarkowski and Lewis Dunk ahead of him.
That hasn’t dissuaded Fernandez, though: “Jamaal is young, he’s physical, and last season especially he had a great campaign throughout,” he told the Chronicle.
“I think England’s style has now changed a little, the squad is younger than before – and, when I was at Swansea, my former team-mate Alfie Mawson got a couple of chances with England. So I don’t see why one day Jamaal won’t get called up. Maybe they will look at him in some friendly games so he can show his quality for his country,” he finished.
OPINION
This has been a similar refrain from Newcastle players and supporters alike for some time. There’s no doubt that Lascelles showed last season that he has the quality to play for his country, but there’s also no argument that he’s seen his form drop off as the team have struggled at the start of this campaign. But when you consider, as Fernandez says, that Mawson got a chance with England last term it appears rather bizarre that Lascelles still hasn’t received a call up. Mawson had a decent season for Swansea City last time out, but there is no way that he performed better than the Magpies captain. Lascelles is leading a Premier League club, a huge one at that, on a week to week basis at the age of just 24. His youth means he fits Gareth Southgate’s current model, and while he may not be the finest passer of the ball, he is serviceable – besides, the Three Lions have John Stones and Harry Maguire for that.
