Liverpool fans have been raving about Ben Woodburn for a while now, and the teenage sensation has already written his name into the history books.
Woodburn became the Reds’ youngest ever goalscorer in a competitive game when he clinched victory against Leeds United in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, breaking a record set by Michael Owen before the 17-year-old was even born.
Normally when such a young talent breaks through for an English club, talk will turn to how close he must be to a senior Three Lions call-up (Exhibit A: Rashford, M.).
Thankfully, though, the teenager has played at youth level for another of the home nations.
Relax, Ben Woodburn is Welsh.
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) November 29, 2016
Still, that hasn’t stopped people from touting other youngsters for England call-ups, even those who have turned out for Ireland (Exhibit B: Grealish, J), those more eligible for other countries (Exhibit C: Januzaj, A) or even those with no chance of playing for England (Exhibit D: Giggs, R – rather weirdly).
When you throw into the mix the fact that Woodburn was actually born in Cheshire (that’s part of England, in case you were unsure), you always knew what was going to follow.
https://twitter.com/edfordpfc/status/803716306658791425
https://twitter.com/k_skupski/status/803714881308401664
People calling for a Ben Woodburn England call up. 😂😂😂 He's currently in the Wales U19 squad so good luck with that.
— Shane Ó Dubhuir (@shanethegooner) November 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/stewalshPJ/status/803720112058626048
Sure, most of those calling for Woodburn to get the England nod may have been doing so in jest, but a few Welsh fans are already starting to get nervous.
And, in their defence, if Harry Wilson was able to earn a senior Wales cap before making his Liverpool debut, why not Woodburn now?
If I were wales, I'd be getting Woodburn in the squad for the qualifiers. Not only to experience the international set up, but to cap him.
— liam (@liamjdbutler) November 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/DivvyOrigi/status/803718593795850241
https://twitter.com/Wesjones53/status/803723904921534464
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