Chelsea striker, Tammy Abraham has revealed how delighted he is with his invitation to England’s national team, and declared that he is proud to receive another call-up and chance to play for The Three Lions, megasportsarena.com reports.
Speaking in the wake of his invitation by England manager, Gareth Southgate on Thursday, the Nigerian-born attacker said he was excited with the opportunity to add to the two previous caps he got in friendlies and now finally commit his international future to the country of his birth.
Abraham stands to be cap-tied to England, and eventually out of Nigeria’s reach, should he go on to feature in any of The Three Lions’ upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Czech Republic and Bulgaria, ahead of which the lanky lad expressed gratitude over his invitation.
Incidentally, there is also a call-up for Abraham’s Nigeria-born pal at Chelsea, Fikayo Tomori, who has also been under pressure from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles, but now also looks out of reach after being included in Southgate’s 25-man squad for the forthcoming qualifiers.
Tomori’s debut invitation by England, despite also being eligible to the country of his birth, Canada, comes against the backdrop of his brilliant start to his full season with Chelsea, after playing on loan at Derby County last season, while Abraham’s return to The Lions is based on his goals scoring run with The Blues so early in the campaign, in the EPL and Champions League.
Both players, who have become integral parts of Frank Lampard’s maiden spell as manager at Stamford Bridge, were in action in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Lille Metrpole in the UCL, with Abraham netting the game’s first goal, as he opened his European account for the season, such that his call-up by Southgate is highly justified.
Nigeria’s interest in the duo is now sure to fade, following their open acceptances of the call by England and ultimate confirmation of their allegiance to the country where they ply their soccer trade, just like another Chelsea player with ancestral links to their father’s country, Ross Barkley (the son of Peter Efanga), who has also been named in the latest squad, but Tottenham Hotspur’s Nigerian-born midfielder, Dele Alli misses out.
In celebrating his golden opportunity to get his competitive debut for England, Abraham took to social media with a message and picture of himself alongside Tomori, Barkley and their Chelsea pal, Mason Mount, bound with a blue heart, as the in-form star, who has seven English Premier League goals this season, posted: “Always proud to get the @Englandcallup. Congrats boys.”
