David Moyes is thrilled Lee Carsley has awarded West Ham United defender Ben Johnson his first call-up to the England U21 side for their upcoming qualifiers, via the Irons website.
The Young Lions host Andorra next Friday, and visit Albania on March 29 in their bid for a place at the 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship. Carsley’s side trail Czech Republic by three points in Group G in their efforts to reach the tournament in Romania and Georgia.
Carsley is blessed with options at full-back with Tariq Lamptey, Djed Spence and Valentino Livramento also making his squad. All three have thrived for their respective clubs so far in 2021/22, to earn spots on transfer shortlists being assembled at top Premier League sides.
Tottenham considered a move for Lamptey in January but they baulked at Brighton’s £50m price tag, per The Sun. Spurs are also in the mix for Spence, as The Mirror report they and Arsenal have contacted Middlesbrough. Calciomercato also cite Livramento as an option.
Johnson, too, has found admirers at Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool after regular strong displays for West Ham, per the Evening Standard. But the Irons moved to ward off the risk of losing the 22-year-old by triggering a two-year option to extend the defender’s contract.
David Moyes thrilled West Ham gem Ben Johnson got ‘deserved’ England U21 call-up
Johnson had entered the final four months of his contract before West Ham extended his terms to 2024. Moyes was loath to lose the Irons product, having regularly stepped in for Vladimir Coufal at right-back. He has also impressed when at left-back for Aaron Cresswell.
Yet his London Stadium performances were yet to return a cap at any international level. So, the London-born dynamo could now make his England debut in their March qualifiers.
Carsley including Johnson in his England U21 plans has delighted West Ham boss Moyes. Who feels the youngster fully deserved the call-up, with chances to do so almost over.
“I’m really pleased for Ben Johnson because he’s done a great job,” Moyes said. “He’s an improving young player, and he deserved his call up for England U21s.
“He’s got quite a good standard of competition in the England U21s as a right-back, but he’s doing very well for us at the moment.”
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