AliousEngland manager Gareth Southgate heaped praise on Adam Wharton after the youngster’s impressive debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating:
“Adam Wharton showed what we’ve seen at the end of the season and in training: he sees pictures early; he can play forward.”
Southgate highlighted Wharton’s ability to quickly recognize attacking opportunities and play incisive forward passes as a key reason for calling him up, describing it as a quality England have lacked over the past 7-8 years.
The England manager revealed the senior squad initially doubted Wharton’s inclusion but quickly recognized his quality once they trained alongside him, acknowledging the coaching staff’s extensive scouting process.
With impressive performances for club and country in recent months, some are now wondering if the 20-year-old could make England’s squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.
Southgate deflected talks of the Euros for now, focusing on Wharton’s seamless adaptation and comfort level during his debut, which aligned with what the coaches had seen from him at Crystal Palace.
Club and national teammate Ebere Eze, who also featured against Bosnia, lauded Wharton as “an incredible player” and “a joy to play with,” praising his calmness, composure and maturity beyond his years.
While cautioning about the challenges ahead, Southgate expressed delight in Wharton’s assured debut performance, which encapsulated the qualities that earned him a senior call-up in the first place – vision, forward-thinking, and an ability to unlock defenses.
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