Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori has said that it was difficult to ignore a call-up from the England national side after they came calling for his services. The centre-back has been a revelation for the Blues since making the breakthrough under Frank Lampard this term and he is currently regarded as an undisputed starter in the league and Europe.
He told: “England is such a big nation, as well as Nigeria and Canada, so I think I was going to be happy with whoever called me up – but it’s nice it is England. It wasn’t England all the way. I had certain people and certain things that I had to consider. I spoke to my family and people that I care about it and that’s the decision I came to. So, when England came calling, it was difficult to say no. It was just more of a thing I was waiting for a call-up because the last international break I didn’t get a call-up from anyone. This international break, I was waiting for a call-up and England called me up.”
Tomori had begun his youth career with the Canadian national side but he thereafter switched his allegiance to England and was part of the Under-20 World Cup winning squad. After impressing with Derby County on loan last season, there were suggestions that Tomori could represent the country Nigeria, whom he qualifies through his father but that was not meant to be with the defender deciding to delay the decision.
England currently have the likes of Harry Maguire, Michael Keane and Joe Gomez ahead of Tomori in the pecking order but he could get the chance to impress off the bench. Elsewhere, Blues teammate Tammy Abraham appears set to make his first competitive appearance for the Three Lions thereby ending the regular speculation whether he would switch his allegiance to Nigeria. The striker has been in exemplary form for the Blues and has already bagged eight goals across all competitions.