London-born footballers Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been approached by Ghanaian national team coach Chris Hughton, urging them to consider switching allegiance to Ghana.
Both players have previously represented England at various levels, with Hudson-Odoi even earning three senior caps for the Three Lions in competitive matches.
Nketiah, currently the all-time leading goalscorer at Under-21 level for England with 16 goals in 17 appearances, and Hudson-Odoi have reportedly been snubbed by England manager Gareth Southgate in recent years, which has prompted discussions about the possibility of them playing for Ghana.
Hughton, who took charge of the Ghanaian side in February, highlighted the complex nature of such decisions, especially for players who have represented their home country at multiple youth levels. He explained that the process of making a switch requires dialogue and understanding, emphasizing that the final decision rests with the players themselves.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Premier League boss said: “The issue is, and it is understandable, particularly for someone like myself who was born here. I have an Irish mother, Ghanaian father and chose to play for Ireland at that particular time.
“These are two players that have represented England at quite a few of the underage teams. So some of it is understandable. We have been in contact with them.
“Not just in my time, I think from before as well. It is a process. But ultimately it will be about both of them making that decision that they want to play but we have had good dialogue with them.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi, in particular, has been the subject of long-standing speculation regarding an international switch, despite previously featuring in competitive matches for England. In March 2019, he broke the record for the youngest-ever player to make his debut in a competitive match for England, aged 18 years and 135 days. However, an ACL injury hampered his progress, affecting his first-team opportunities both at club and national levels. Recent reports suggest that Hudson-Odoi may be moving to Fulham.
On the other hand, Eddie Nketiah recently signed a new contract with Arsenal worth £100,000 per week, establishing himself as a crucial backup striker for manager Mikel Arteta behind Gabriel Jesus.
Source: GraphicOnline
