Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield thinks Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa could choose to represent Portugal if he continues to be snubbed by England manager Gareth Southgate.
The 24-year-old has made 79 appearances for Aston Villa during his time with the club, scoring four goals and providing two assists and also helped Villa to keep the third most clean sheets in the Premier League last term, as the club kept 15.
Konsa has been a key player for Villa in the Premier League this season, as he had started all ten of their matches prior to the Southampton fixture, only missing the trip to St Mary’s through suspension as he was sent-off in the 4-1 defeat to West Ham.
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Hatfield believes that the centre-back needs to continue to impress at club level to force his way into the thinking of Southgate and the England team, but did also reveal that Konsa could represent Portugal.
“For Konsa it’s a wait and see game. I think he’s got to hold out and continue impressing at club level. I’m sure Southgate will have him in his thinking but the issue for Southgate is that Konsa could always go and represent Portugal through family lineage. So, it’s another tricky situation, would Konsa want to do that? I’m not too sure,” Hatfield told This is Futbol.
Southgate named the England squad for the upcoming internationals against Albania and San Marino, with Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Reece James and Kalvin Phillips all returning, but Kieran Trippier, Fikayo Tomori and Ollie Watkins missing out [BBC Sport].