Nigel Martyn believes Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall would thrive under the ‘bigger pressure’ of representing England and has backed the Everton midfielder to break into the squad.
Dewsbury-Hall was an unfortunate omission from Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this month’s Nations League fixtures with Croatia and Spain, with the England manager admitting the 28-year-old was ‘very close’ to a first call-up.
The midfielder has been in good form for Everton in recent weeks, playing an integral role in successive wins against Newcastle (2) and Coventry City.
Martyn believes Dewsbury-Hall is already showing a level that’s good enough for international football, and is confident that he could handle the expectation should selection arrival.
Speaking to ToffeeWeb for the Once a Blue podcast, the ex-Everton goalkeeper said: “I was at the Hill Dickinson for the Newcastle game in the Carabao Cup and he ran the game. There were some very good international midfielders playing for Newcastle, but Kiernan ran the whole game and he did the same in the return fixture in the league.
“He’s doing all the right things. I would say he’s in the conversation with the manager. Obviously, there are some great international players that he’s up against, but he just has to keep doing what he’s doing and he will get his chance.
“This sort of international break was probably a good one for him [Tuchel] to have a look at him, because his form at the moment warrants selection into an England squad. If you’ve got a player that can go out there and express himself and actually run the game, then they’re the sort of players you really need to be looking at at international level when things get difficult.
“There’s more pressure on you, but if you can still go out there and do that. Like a young Paul Gascoigne did all those years ago, the bigger the pressure, the more he thrived on it. I see Kiernan a bit like that.
“I think he wants to boss the midfield and really try and run it. He’s in the equation, but there are some great players that we’ve got in midfield and in an attacking midfield sense. He’s got to fight against them, but it would have been a good opportunity now for Thomas to have had a look at him this time. He didn’t quite make it. My only advice was keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll definitely get a go, because your standard is good enough.”
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