OPINION
Ademola Lookman was handed his third consecutive Everton start against Southampton on Saturday afternoon, and the young winger must be on the cusp of an international call-up from Gareth Southgate’s England side.
The 21-year-old is a real livewire, and aside from his pace and directness causing issues in wide positions, his natural instincts and intelligent use of space mean that he has a tendency to pop up in dangerous areas all across the front line.
It would appear that he has usurped the waning Theo Walcott from the Toffees’ starting 11, and deservedly so, and now he must be looking at how he can progress this season to force his way into the national team set up.
Southgate has proven that he is not afraid to put faith in youth, and while there are a multitude of young English wingers breaking through at the moment, jostling for a chance to pull on the Three Lions, Lookman has what it takes to match any of them.
The fact that he possesses such a natural awareness of where to position himself to use maximum threat to an opponent could see him converted into a centre forward later in his career, and if he does begin to get a run through the middle, his versatility will only make him more appealing to the national side.
It’s surely only a matter of time before he gets his first senior cap.