Hellberg unsure of 'brilliant' Lankshear's England chances

What the report says

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has played down questions over whether striker Will Lankshear could earn a surprise senior England call-up, saying he has more immediate concerns about his own squad. The BBC Sport report says the 21-year-old scored twice in Middlesbrough’s 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic, extending his strong start to life at the club after joining from Tottenham in the summer.

Lankshear now has 15 goals in 16 matches in all competitions for Middlesbrough, including 13 in 13 Championship appearances. His scoring form has helped keep Boro top of the table and has increased discussion about whether England head coach Thomas Tuchel might consider him for upcoming Nations League fixtures. Tuchel recently said he would not automatically overlook players outside the Premier League.

Hellberg called Lankshear a “brilliant” and “fantastic” player, praising his daily work and noting improvements in his all-round game since arriving on Teesside. He also highlighted Lankshear’s pressing and defensive contributions, alongside his finishing in the box. The article adds that Lankshear was involved with England’s Under-21 side last month. In a broader football context, his form is notable because it has put a Championship player into the national-team discussion at a time when England selections are often dominated by Premier League players.