LOOKMAN’S ENGLAND PLEDGE

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN has pledged his future to England after talks with Under 21 boss Aidy Boothroyd over stories linking him to Nigeria.

The Everton winger was part of the Under 20 squad that won the World Cup in 2017 and will have a key role to play at Euro 2019 for the Under 21s.

As he prepares for next summer’s Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr said of Lookman three weeks ago that he ‘wanted to change his mind so he can play for us’.

The FA are aware of Nigeria’s interest, but Boothroyd spoke with Lookman, 21, at St George’s Park last week.

‘Every time I see him I have a little joke with him about it,’ said Boothroyd, whose side play a friendly in Denmark tonight. ‘I say, “Why would you want to leave us?” But he’s very focused on England — that’s what he tells me. He says he wants to play international football for England.’

Lookman has endured a difficult year. His heart was set on a move to Germany to join RB Leipzig but Everton refused to do business and he found himself out of Marco Silva’s team. The last month has seen an upturn in his form.

‘He’s had a tough time of it, but he’s been better recently,’ said Boothroyd. ‘He got himself into a state in the summer when he didn’t know where he would be playing or if he would be moving or not. Now he has just got his head around the fact that wherever it is he is playing, he has to play well.’

Dominic Solanke, meanwhile, is aiming to carry on where he finished in Italy on Thursday and return to Liverpool with his confidence lifted. The striker has not played a minute for his club this season but scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Italy last week.

‘Jurgen (Klopp) is a great manager and he knows what he is doing, especially when he is bringing people through,’ said Solanke.

ENGLAND U21s (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Walker-Peters, Simpson, Konsa, Da Silva; Cook, Davies; Gray, Foden, Solanke; Calvert-Lewin.

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