Townsend: England called NFF target Eze before injury nightmare

by Helder Ribiero

Saturday May 29, 2021. 16:00

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) target Eberechi Eze was due to be named in England’s provisional squad for the 2020 UEFA European Championship.

This is according to Eze’s teammate at English Premier League club Crystal Palace, Andros Townsend, who is an England international.

Eze reportedly sustained an injury just 10 minutes before the end of a Palace training session ahead of their Premier League clash against Arsenal FC earlier this month.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who was born in England to parents of Nigerian descent, ruptured his Achilles and he has now undergone surgery to correct the issue.

Townsend has disclosed that England manager Gareth Southgate had to scratch Eze’s out from his provisional squad.

“Yes I can say this because it has come out in the press,” Townsend told talkSPORT.

“As soon as he got in the dressing room, turned on his phone there was a message from somebody in England to say that he was in the provisional England squad.

“That obviously compounded his misery and a lot of us were in tears. It was a sad day,” he added.

“He’s had his surgery now, hopefully, he’s on the mend and I know the player he is and character he is, he’s going to come back stronger.”

Eze has played for England’s under-20 and under-21 national teams, but he is still eligible to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.