1 week Ago
DEFENDER Taylor Harwood-Bellis admitted Southampton's poor form played on his mind but always remained confident he could perform in the Premier League . Harwood-Bellis has been handed his first England call-up this month, despite Saints sitting bottom of the Premier League, after settling into life as a top-flight player. Interim England boss Lee Carsley, who worked with the defender at under-21 level, insisted he deserved a chance with the seniors.
Carsley pointed towards his regular Premier League minutes and contributions to England's age-grade sides as reasons for a maiden call-up. Harwood-Bellis arrived at St George's Park following a 2-0 defeat to Wolves which saw Saints slip to the foot of the table. Asked if Southampton's poor form made him fear a call-up was less likely, Harwood-Bellis explained: "It always plays on your mind.
"I take pride in it. Where we are in the league, is a reflection of me, not just the whole team. "If you strip it down, and from what I've been told, I've been performing well.
I think from what I've been told, it seems very deserved and I'm so happy to be here. "It's difficult at times when things aren't going your way. It's part of being a footballer, it's not all going to be easy.
"There's always going to be bumps, it's about how you react. I'm a young player and I'm always learning. "I've never been in this position before, a relegation battle.
I'm trying to keep a level head. I think I'm doing alright at the minute." He continued: "I'm here now for this camp.
It's in the senior squad, the young lads will be pushing towards trying to keep their spot (for when Thomas Tuchel takes over). "It's going to be difficult because the quality and the experience of some of the lads that aren't here is massive. 🗣️ "Luckily he's called me up and stuck to his promise!" Taylor Harwood-Bellis discusses being called up for the first time, his Dad's reaction to the news and working with Lee Carsley again 🦁 pic.
twitter.com/1EnJSnIQkA — England (@England) November 11, 2024 "It'll be difficult, but it'll be something I've got to focus on week in and week out at Southampton and if I get minutes here (with England)." Harwood-Bellis is one of eight players in this England squad that won the under-21s European Championship with Lee Carsley in 2023.
He captained that side and was part of a defence which navigated the tournament without conceding a single goal. With Saints teammate Aaron Ramsdale no longer in the squad, meeting up with familiar faces has made it easier for the defender to adjust at senior level. "I know the boys on a good level, the lads that have obviously played in the Euros," he explained.
"I've spent a lot of time with them. It did make it a little bit easier knowing them so personally but everyone's been welcoming and once you get on the pitch, it's all fine." "Looking back it's a massive achievement, something that I'm really proud of.
All the boys that were there, we'd done it together as a team. "When we celebrated afterwards, you just knew it was big. Then coming back, it was everywhere.
Everyone was saying well done. "You could just feel how big it was to the country, even though it was obviously under-21 level. You could feel how big it was.
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