Liverpool wide-man Jordon Ibe may have spent the last international break alongside team-mate Joe Gomez with the England U-21 squad, but his time with the kids looks to be coming to an end with Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson saying that he’d consider giving the 20-year old a shot at the senior team.
“He is someone we have been looking at,” said the one time Reds boss when asked about the 19-year old. “I want Jordon to fight for his place in the team, like everyone else,” continued Hodgson, before confirming that Ibe is contention for his first call-up to the senior squad. “He is certainly a player we like very much, one who we have our eyes on and no (it’s) far from impossible that he gets called up in one of the next games.”
With Ibe yet to earn himself a full cap, Nigeria — who he is also eligible to represent at senior level — have also been courting the talented youngster, though he looks set to wave off their advances. Given encouragement by the chances afforded to fellow youngsters Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw, the Liverpool winger will be waiting for the phone to ring when the next round of international fixtures comes around, but he’ll only be getting the call if he continues impressing for the Reds.
“Many years ago Stevie mentioned Jordon Ibe to me. He said: ‘We have got this young lad, he is something special.’ He had the same feeling about Raheem (Sterling),” explained the England boss. “We must be careful. People take their time. There is competition in his place,” added the veteran manager. “If he wants to break into our team he will have to keep doing well for Liverpool and maybe keep doing well for the Under-21s and wait his chance. But if you are asking me does he have the potential and ability? Absolutely, 100 per cent.”
