PARLOUR: GOR FOR IT, EMILE

SUPPORT: Smith Rowe fan Ray

ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour has urged Emile Smith Rowe to keep knocking on Gareth Southgate’s door.

The 20-year-old is enjoying an impressive breakthrough campaign at the Emirates. And having grown up in the south London suburbs, he’s been nicknamed the ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ by fans.

Smith Rowe made his England U21 debut in a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland on Thursday. But Parlour, called ‘the Romford Pele’ during his playing days, wants the rookie to push for a call-up to the senior squad.

“If he can get anywhere near Kevin De Bruyne he’s done well,” he said. “I saw Smith-rowe at 17 years old and I thought he’d be very decent, but he struggled with injuries.

“His issue with England is the competition for places. There’s still James Maddison, not to mention Jack Grealish and Harvey Barnes before they picked up knocks. You’ve also got Bukayo Saka.

“In the league Arsenal haven’t performed and Mikel Arteta has got to look at recruitment in the summer. But he’s put the youngsters in and is giving them opportunities to impress.”

Parlour, capped 10 times for the Three Lions, says the pressure will be on Southgate to get England firing at the Euros given the talent at his disposal.

He added: “England set the bar so high with the World Cup in 2018. Everyone expects a semi-final this time round. He can’t complain with the squad he’s got.”

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