England manager Roy Hodgson has said he will not be stampeded into fielding rising forward Jordan Ibe because Nigeria are trying to woo him to switch his national status.
The Three Lions boss, who has admitted to liking the 19-year-old Liverpool FC player, says he will only bring Ibe on board for reasons of merit.
"My attitude is quite clear - I want players who want to play for England. I am not going to start making players English by giving them a few minutes in games," Hodgson told the English press.
"I want Jordan to fight for his place in the team like everyone else. He is certainly a player we like very much and certainly a player we have our eyes on. It\'s far from impossible that he will get called up in one of the next games.
"But if we do call him up it won\'t be because we are worried about other nations. We're England. And when it gets so bad in England that we can't get enough players who want to play for England, who want to put the England shirt on and are capable, then we are in a difficult period."
Meanwhile Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh, who met with the family of the England youth international to try and convince them that his chances were better with the Super Eagles, has announced that Ibe has opted to wait for England\'s call rather than Nigeria's.
"Jordon Ibe's family informed me by a telephone call that he was giving priority to an England call-up. We wish them well," Oliseh tweeted on Sunday.
-
Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @Joy997FM. Our hashtag is #JoySports
Latest Stories
-
Interplast Ltd wins double honours at 10th Ghana Mining Industry Awards
2 mins -
Coastal CSOs Forum embarks on study trip to enhance Ghana’s coastal resilience efforts
24 mins -
NPP stronger and bigger than any individual – Haruna Mohammed to Prof Frimpong-Boateng
26 mins -
Bawumia lacks emotional attachment to NPP – Prof Frimpong-Boateng
47 mins -
National Cathedral: CHRAJ faults trustees for not recording minutes relating to GH₵2.6m loan advanced by JNS Talent
56 mins -
Photos: JoyNews National Dialogue on Clean Air and Elections
1 hour -
Key highlights from National Election Security Taskforce meeting with EC
1 hour -
EC confirms readiness for special voting exercise on December 2
1 hour -
Recall of Parliament: It’s not left to Minority to determine when to do gov’t business – Habib Iddrisu
1 hour -
Recall of Parliament: We didn’t trigger any constitutional provision – NPP
1 hour -
‘Dr Bawumia represents hope for a brighter and more prosperous Ghana’
1 hour -
Doctors say it’s fine to pee in the shower
2 hours -
Election: My real party is not on the ballot sheet – Prof. Frimpong-Boateng
2 hours -
Stephen Amoah pulls gun on youth who threatened him with toy guns
2 hours -
‘Liars won’t go to heaven’ – Mahama jabs Akufo-Addo on dumsor claims
2 hours