Emile Smith Rowe is not in the England senior squad to merely make up the numbers, with Gareth Southgate saying that he will have no hesitation in calling on the Arsenal attacker in the national team’s final two World Cup qualifiers.
England face Albania, at Wembley tomorrow evening, and San Marino, away on Monday, needing four points to seal their place in Qatar next year.
And with several key names absent because of injury and illness Smith Rowe has been rewarded for his fine club form by a promotion from the Under-21 set up.
Despite admitting to nerves in his first training session on Tuesday, the versatile forward has impressed the coaching staff and could feature off the bench against Albania.
"I think we've brought him here to be involved with the team, and with a view to being involved in the two matches,” Southgate said.
“He's settled really well. He obviously knows a couple of his club teammates, Phil [Foden] from when he was in the U17s, and this is a group that makes young players and new players very welcome.
“I don't think it's a difficult environment to fit in. His quality has been apparent in the way he's trained. So he's ready, and we've enjoyed having him with us this week already."
He is the latest in a long line of players to have been called up from the Under-21s during Southgate’s tenure, with midfielder Jude Bellingham and Reece James from this current group also getting last-minute promotions in previous international windows.
Conor Gallagher, the Crystal Palace midfielder on loan from Chelsea, has also been earmarked as a potential addition from the Under-21s.
“It is obviously an opportunity whenever we are here training,” Southgate added. “There are opportunities for players to transfer across. That’s what we want.
"We want that sort of club environment where there is a natural progression if players are doing well. Emile was very close to being in the original squad as we discussed when we announced it. So we had no hesitation in calling him across.”
