Second Sheffield United Player Being Eyed By Southgate For England Call Up

Second Sheffield United Player Being Eyed By Southgate For England Call Up

England manager Gareth Southgate is monitoring Sheffield United defender Jack O’Connell ahead of a possible call up for the national team, according to Sky Sports.

The Three Lions head coach is keen on centre-backs who can play out from the back, and the Blades star has certainly shown he is capable of doing that as part of Chris Wilder’s unorthodox three-man defence.

O’Connell regularly makes overlapping runs past the wingback in order to deliver crosses, and has to be very comfortable on the ball in order to cope with the demands that the role places on him.

The 25-year-old is also strong in the air, having provided the assist for Lys Mousset’s goal against Arsenal on Monday after nodding the ball down from a corner.

Blades keeper Dean Henderson has already been in Southgate’s squad, but O’Connell’s inclusion would be a big surprise, considering he was playing on loan at Rochdale from Brentford just four years ago.