As this is the final weekend of club football for an elongated international break, national team squads are starting to be announced. 18 members of Liverpool's squad are set to be in action around the world at senior international level, a number that is slightly higher than forecast.
That is because, on Friday morning, it was confirmed that Rio Ngumoha has been included in Thomas Tuchel's 26 player England squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. The teenager is also eligible to represent France, Nigeria and Guadeloupe, but has only ever donned the kit of the Three Lions at youth level, so does not appear to have split loyalties.
Well, back in June, Ngumoha did make his senior England debut. He was introduced as a half time substitute during a World Cup warm up match against New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium; Harry Kane's header the only goal of the evening in Tampa. Now though, the winger is on the cusp of a senior international debut.
Speaking to the media at AXA Training Centre on Friday lunchtime, ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with his former side Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola was clearly delighted with this news:
"Very happy, both [Ngumoha] and Alex Scott deserve it, they helped the national team before the World Cup and did a good job. I can only speak so well about both, deserved, they are ready.""Andoni Iraola on Ngumoha
As the manager references, four players not in the World Cup squad trained with England ahead of the tournament, namely Ngumoha, Ethan Nwaneri, Josh King and Alex Scott, who the Reds will come up against on Sunday, and a player Iraola knows rather well.
While full of praise for the 18 year old, Iraola did acknowledge later on in the press conference that Ngumoha is far from the finish product.
"I think the other day against Spurs, Rio didn't have his best start but I like how he came back from that. Lost duels, Udogie is a strong player but Rio did his job, first goal comes from him, one-v-one. He is part of that build up for the goal and that is what we are trying to put into him, he is still learning the league, only 18 but he has the quality. We are happy also because they called him for England."Andoni Iraola on Ngumoha
So, will we see the teenager in the starting lineup by the South Coast on Sunday? Well, the answer is probably not, with Bradley Barcola and mid-week scorer Cody Gakpo, who is back fit, the likely starters. Nevertheless, Ngumoha will play a part at some point, and will be key to the Reds' hopes this season.
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