TINO Livramento admitted “there’s plenty of things I need to work on” but targets a good run of games with England’s under-21s to force Gareth Southgate to take notice. The Saints youngster insisted that playing with the Young Lions is “the main thing” for him now, after impressing in EURO qualifying for Lee Carsley’s side last week. However, England are currently blessed with full-backs and Livramento likely finds himself behind some of the country’s best talent – including teammate Kyle Walker-Peters, who marked his Three Lions debut with a win over Switzerland
Tino Livramento said: “There’s plenty of things that I need to work on. If I have a really good run of games, hopefully the gaffer (Gareth Southgate) will have a look at me and think he wants to give me a chance. I’m always going to give my all 100 per cent going forward, trying to get assists, or defensively being solid, winning my headers, staying focused all the time. In the first camp we had a few boys who are now with the seniors. But I feel like when the time’s due, the time’s due. I’m not going to rush anything. As long as I’m getting called up to the Under-21s, that’s the main thing for me right now. To be at an international level where I’m playing with all these different players and gaining experience at this level, that’s a major thing for me.”
At under-21 level, Livramento is playing with, testing himself against and learning from some of England’s biggest prodigies. Alongside him in the starting XI on Friday were Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey and exciting PSV starlet Noni Madueke. Among the bench included Gordon, who has been Everton’s shining light in a disastrous season, Manchester United loanee James Garner and previously Saints-linked Djed Spence.
Tino Livramento added: “When you’re playing with these type of players all you have to do is put it in certain areas and you know they’re going to be there. For the first goal, there was a good bit of link-up on the side with me, Morgan (Gibbs-White) and Harvey. For the second one, I just fed it into the area where I thought the winger was going to be and it was a great finish. It’s been good. We have the boys who are younger coming through, the 2002s, and obviously Levi (Colwill) and Harvey who are 2003s. I feel like a lot of boys have been in the set-up from early ages so we understand the identity of what it’s like to play with England. I think the main thing is when everyone is getting on the ball and enjoying themselves, then we’re going to see a complete team performance. We know our levels and we know we can achieve so much more.”
