According to many sceptics, Tammy Abraham is not good enough to be Chelsea’s first-choice striker. However, after a red-hot start to the season, the 22-year-old is in the England squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
The first of that double-header is tonight, as Gareth Southgate’s team travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic. Reports suggest that club mate Mason Mount is set to make his full international debut. However, Abraham is unlikely to start with Tottenham Harry Kane a permanent fixture in the lone central striker role.
Abraham in better form than Kane
We all know what Harry Kane can do and he is a goal machine at both club and international record. It would be churlish to say that Abraham is a better forward than the 26-year-old England captain. However, on current form the Chelsea youngster should maybe be given an opportunity to shine.
Kane has not been at his best this season. Southgate has talked about picking players on form in the past. If that truly is the case, then Abraham should be starting as the lone central striker. It seems unlikely that the youngster will get that opportunity. Southgate is likely to play it safe in the Czech Republic with Kane upfront.
Three Lions need to tie down Abraham
Believe it or not, Tammy Abraham has not yet committed his international future to England. He recently talked about not having decided whether he wants to represent the Three Lions or Nigeria at international level.
As both of his international appearances have come in friendly matches, the Chelsea striker could still play for the Super Eagles at international level. However, if he makes an appearance in European Championship qualifiers, then he that makes his decision for him.
Harry Kane is the main man in England’s attack right now, but if Abraham continues in his current goalscoring vein then England will kick themselves if he decides to represent Nigeria at international level.
Abraham is a bright young prospect who is joint top goalscorer in the Premier League with league icon Sergio Aguero. He still slightly raw, but the signs are that he will only get better with more experience. The striker is exactly the sort of young, hungry player that England needs to keep the squad competitive. Southgate must tie him down to the Three Lions, even if it only means giving him a run-out as a substitute against the Czech Republic or Bulgaria.
England cruising in qualifying
In truth, England has been cruising in qualifying for Euro 2020. It would not be a major surprise to see Southgate’s team winning all their games in Group A. The Three Lions are odds of 8/13 to win in the Czech Republic.
While Gareth Southgate could use these games as experimentation, the England boss is more likely to field as tried and tested starting line-up as he can in both qualifiers to make sure his team completes the job in Group.
However, it would not be a disaster to see Tammy Abraham leading the Three Lions attack. He is big in form and would certainly benefit from acquiring some international experience in the near future.
No doubt his chance will come. Hopefully, for the striker and England he takes it, just as he has for his club team.
Is there any chance that Tammy Abraham starts either of England’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers?
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