Yet again, Everton youngster, Ademola Lookman, has pledged his future to England after holding face-to-face talks with Under-21 head coach Aidy Boothroyd over persistent stories linking him to Nigeria.
The 21-year-old was born in England to parents from Nigeria and is eligible for the national teams of both countries.
Lookman was part of the Under-20 squad that won the World Cup in 2017 and he will have a significant role to play for the Under-21s next summer in Italy, as they bid to build on their promise and win Euro 2019.
However, Lookman has been the subject of concerted interest from the Super Eagles, especially after Gernot Rohr’s team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Football Association have been aware of Nigeria’s interest in him for some time but Boothroyd spoke with Lookman, 21, at St George’s Park last week and has been assured that he is committed to representing England.
“Every time I see him I have a little joke with him about it,” said Boothroyd, whose side face Denmark in a friendly on Tuesday evening. “I say: ‘Why would you want to leave us?’
“But he’s very focused on England – that’s what he tells me. He says he wants to play international football for England.”
Lookman has endured a difficult year.
His heart was set on a move to Germany to join RB Leipzig but Everton refused to do business and he found himself out of Marco Silva’s team, but the last month has seen an upturn in his form.
“He’s had a tough time of it, but he’s been better recently,” said Boothroyd.
“He got himself into a state over summer when he didn’t know where he would be playing or if he would be moving or not. Now he has just got his head around the fact that wherever it is he is playing, he has to play well.
‘He has told himself “I just have to focus on me” which is right. When you look at Dominic Solanke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tammy Abraham, Reiss Nelson, Ryan Sessegnon and Ademola, we have some real attacking talent.”
