Arvin Appiah made his Nottingham Forest debut and scored – but could he go from the Championship to Gareth Southgate’s England plans?
Since being appointed as the England manager in 2016, Gareth Southgate has demonstrated that he’s willing to hand out call ups regardless of reputation, age or even what league they are playing in.
18-year-old Jadon Sancho has featured in England’s two games during the November international break while Mason Mount was also handed his first senior call after a series of impressive performances for Derby County in the Championship.
And Arvin Appiah is another name who could well be on Southgate’s radar in the coming months and years – despite his tender age of just 17.
The Nottingham Forest winger has forced his way into Aitor Karanka’s first-team plans of late and scored on his debut in the EFL Cup defeat to Burton Albion.
And former England international Ian Wright believes Appiah’s rise will not go unnoticed.
“Southgate’s got to be aware of him (Appiah) and I’m sure he will be. Gareth is going to be all over everybody now, especially at that age group,” Wright told the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5Live (19 November, 6pm).
Appiah has a long way to go, however, before he can dream of playing alongside the likes of Sancho, Marcus Rashford and co for the Three Lions.
But the winger has made a promising start at international level, starring as England reached the semi-finals of the European U17 Championships earlier in 2018.
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