Chris Coleman may cap 17-year-old Ben Woodburn for Wales next week – but it will be in order to beat the Republic of Ireland, rather than keep him out of England’s clutches.
The Liverpool youngster has been included in Coleman’s squad for the World Cup qualifier in Dublin on March 24, but the manager insists he is there on merit rather than to end his eligibility for England.
Woodburn was born in Nottingham but raised in Chester, but has always represented Wales through the age groups due to his maternal grandfather. He has been in the Wales set-up since the age of 13 and been capped at Under-17 and Under-19 level.
He became the youngest scorer in Liverpool history – at the age of 17 years and 45 days – when he was on target in the 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Leeds in November.
The teenager has yet to start a Premier League game for the Reds, but he has become a regular member of Jurgen Klopp’s senior squad in recent weeks and has already made seven first-team appearances.
But Coleman insisted: “There won’t be any knee-jerk reactions to cap him. Absolutely not.
“If he doesn’t start and I need to make a change in the game for tactical reasons that’s what will happen. But it won’t be because of anybody else.
“We see Ben as international player for Wales. He has been since a boy, and he has a future with us.
“When everyone got excited six months ago, saying, ‘You need to take a look at Ben Woodburn.’ It made me laugh. He’s been in our system for years.
“If Ben wanted to go and play for England there is absolutely nothing we can do about it, none of our players belong to us, they are not contracted to us.
“To say, ‘You’ve got to get him in.’ That’s not the way to do it. He has earned it. If I thought it was too early for him I wouldn’t have called him up.
“This is a massive game for us. I am thinking about what is the best squad to get together to meet this next challenge. He is a Welsh international as far as I’m concerned so it is that natural progression.
“He’s playing for Liverpool in the Premier League, every day he is training with international players.
“He is technically very good, obviously. Making the transition to international football will be a smooth one. He won’t be daunted by coming with us. It won’t be a problem.”
Woodburn will join up with a Wales squad that includes Gareth Bale, who has been back playing for Real Madrid after undergoing ankle surgery in December, and Aaron Ramsey, who completed 90 minutes for Arsenal against Lincoln in the FA Cup on Sunday for the first time since returning from a calf injury.
Wales currently lie third in qualifying Group D with four games played, four points behind Martin O’Neill’s Republic side, and two behind Serbia.
Wales squad to face Republic of Ireland on 24 March
Goalkeepers W Hennessey, D Ward, O Fôn Williams.
Defenders A Williams, C Gunter, N Taylor, J Collins, J Walsh, S MacDonald, B Davies, J Chester.
Midfielders J Allen, A Ramsey, A King, J Ledley, J Richards, D Edwards.
Forwards G Bale, S Vokes, T Lawrence, T Bradshaw, B Woodburn, H Robson-Kanu.
Ben Woodburn – The Facts
:: Born in Chester and comes from the village of Tattenhall, eight miles south of the city.
:: Joined Liverpool’s academy at under-7 level.
:: Educated at Bishop Heber High School in Cheshire before moving to Rainhill High School, which is Liverpool academy’s official education centre.
:: Made his under-18s debut during the 2015-16 season aged just 15 and ended the campaign as joint top scorer.
:: Had his first experience with Jurgen Klopp’s senior team in the 1-0 pre-season friendly win at Tranmere on July 8.
:: Scored his first goal in a Reds shirt in the 5-0 friendly win at Fleetwood on July 13, finding the target again against Wigan a few days later.
:: Signed his first professional contract on November 8.
:: Named in a Liverpool squad for the first time for the win over Sunderland on November 26, coming off the bench in added time for the briefest of debuts.
:: Made first Liverpool start in FA Cup third-round tie with Plymouth at Anfield in January.
:: Has been involved in the Wales set-up since the age of 13 and played for various age groups, including the Under-17s – who he captained – and U19s.
