Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Taylor Harwood Bellis spoke about receiving his first call-up to the England squad and his longstanding relationship with his former under-21s boss, Lee Carsley. Harwood-Bellis confessed that Carsley always assured him he would be close to the England squad if he played well in the Premier League.
Taylor Harwood Bellis said, “We’ve been on a good journey together. I’ve played the best part of four years for the under-21s. Luckily, he’s called me up and stuck to his promise. My partner was there (when I found out). I told my dad (first). He was so proud. He was dead happy. I slowly led him into it and then told him. I asked him what he was up to, we had a bit of small talk and then I told him I’m going away with the seniors. He couldn’t believe it, probably as much as I couldn’t believe it.”
Russell Martin, the manager of Southampton, expressed his delight for Harwood-Bellis upon hearing about his call-up and commented on his player’s growth and preparation. He highlighted Harwood-Bellis’s important role in the team and his readiness to seize opportunities with the senior team.
Russell Martin said “He’s taken a big responsibility, which he always has done for us with the ball. He has to keep improving. I know he’s trained in and around the squad before anyway when the under-21s have been used in training with the first team. I don’t think he’ll have any worries about that. Knowing Taylor, he’ll just be desperate to get on the pitch and try and force his way into it.”
Southampton’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been forced to withdraw from the England squad to undergo surgery on a suspected fractured finger.
