It would be no surprise if Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie Gray was included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad – but the stats show a Leeds United player is more deserving than Gray.
The 18-year-old has been a regular in Tottenham’s starting line-up over the last few months largely due to the enormous injury crisis plaguing Ange Postecoglou’s squad. Gray has largely played at centre-back.
He has also featured at right-back and left-back which has left Ally McCoist feeling sorry for the teenage Spurs star. Gray could be included in Tuchel’s squad when England take on Albania and Latvia in March.
Tuchel is said to be open to delving into the Championship when it comes to picking his England squad and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is sure to be in the mix, given Burnley’s incredible defence.
Leeds player is more deserving of England call-up than Gray
But according to a new report from the CIES Football Observatory, they say a Leeds United player is actually more deserving of an England call-up over Gray in the form of on-fire defender Jayden Bogle.
The CIES, renowned for their incredible amount of data and stats, ran a report identifying 10 English players under the age of 25 yet to win an England call-up that are deserving of a place in Tuchel’s side.
Fourth on that list is Bogle, given his wonderful form at Elland Road over the last few months. He is ahead of Gray, who sits eighth in the list with the Tottenham man a regular for England’s U21 side these days.
CIES Football Observatory’s top 10 U25 Englishman deserving of first Three Lions call-up:
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Given Gray largely played at right-back for Leeds last season, it is ironic that Bogle was brought in as a £5m replacement for the Tottenham talent. But if anything, Bogle has improved on Gray at Elland Road.
While Gray’s ceiling is obviously higher than Bogle’s, the current Leeds no.2 is a better option on the right of the defence compared to Gray in his first senior season last term. He has had a hand in six goals.