Gareth Southgate Manager
Jacob Ramsey wants to reach double figures for Aston Villa before the end of the current campaign. The attacking midfielder has enjoyed a superb season at Villa Park and he’s made huge strides since Steven Gerrard was appointed head coach in November. Ramsey has scored six times this season, while he’s also assisted two goals for his teammates. England boss Gareth Southgate has a plethora of options in midfield, including former Birmingham City ace Jude Bellingham, but admits Ramsey is now on his radar. Asked whether Ramsey has a chance of making England’s World Cup squad,
Gareth Southgate said: “Yeah, absolutely, I think Jacob is doing really well. I think at this moment in time Conor Gallagher is slightly ahead. They are both pushing Jude (Bellingham), who has been in our squad for a while. Those two are really pushing Jude, there’s no doubt about that, and pushing some of the older players in that group as well. That’s an area where Curtis Jones is also emerging at Liverpool. There are some good attacking midfield players that are good at pressing the opposition and look like they can take goals as well.”
Ramsey must continue performing for Villa to force his way into Southgate’s immediate plans. And the midfielder has set three personal targets for the remainder of the season.
Jacob Ramsey said: “I want to keep my place in the squad, I want to keep playing well for the team, but also when I’m looking back at the season, anything around double figures for goals, I will be happy with. I’m not that far away and we’ve still got a couple of games left.”
Ramsey returns to the scene of his first Premier League start on Saturday when Villa make the short trip to Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Villans can move to within seven points of eighth-placed Wolves, with a game in hand, if they take three points.
Jacob Ramsey added: “It was my first Premier League start in a big game. I was nervous at the start, but I felt as the game went on I got more touches and felt more comfortable. To go back there on Saturday, it’ll be a different type of game with a different atmosphere – I’m looking forward to playing it in front of fans. Wolves are a very good team. They have some really good players and are strong off the ball, aggressive, so we have to make sure we’re right physically and mentally for the challenge.”
