‘Focus on Rangers’ – Steven Gerrard urges attacker to ignore latest headlines
Steven Gerrard has urged Ryan Kent to focus on his Rangers career, following talk of a first England call up.
Kent, 23, has started this season in excellent form for the Gers, registering five goals and five assists across nine appearances in all competitions.
This has led for calls for Kent to be called up to the England squad for the first time, with Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister saying a call up to Gareth Southgate’s squad ‘must be close’.
Kent has also been the subject of a £10m bid from Leeds United, with Steven Gerrard confirming the player is not for sale.
But Gerrard has suggested that Kent should focus on Rangers rather than England and that his international future ‘will take care of itself’.
Speaking to Sky Sports Gerrard said, “I think Ryan should just continue to do what he’s doing, which is playing well and trying to find that consistency. Keep trying to keep the numbers in his games in terms of assists and goals. Everything else will take care of itself.
“I don’t think Ryan Kent needs any England headlines right now. I’m sure Gareth is looking at all the talent up and down the country and around Europe, but Ryan Kent just needs to focus on Rangers and keep doing well.”
Kent has appeared for England at both under-18 and under-20 level before, but is still awaiting his first senior call up.
It is hard to see what more Ryan Kent needs to do to impress Gareth Southgate before the next international break in early October. His record this season is outstanding and he is arguably playing the best football of his career.
There could be hope for Kent however, as Southgate’s last England squad included plenty of players who have never been called up before, such as Jack Grealish, Mason Greenwood and even Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, who at that point was yet to play Premier League football.
Of course the Rangers winger has plenty of competition on the wings if he wants to break into that England side, with Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho, arguably two of the best wingers in world football standing in his way.
One thing is for certain, if Kent continues his excellent form this season, he will be knocking on Bielsa’s door. But for now, Ryan Kent can only focus on helping Rangers get back to winning ways, starting at Motherwell on Sunday.
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