Returning to his boyhood club last season, Danny Ings quickly became a fan favourite for followers of Southampton FC. Having played for the Saints youth academy as a boy, Ings return to the South Coast was greeted with much fanfare. Finding greatness once more, Danny Ings has become a star for Southampton, but should also be one for England.
Why Gareth Southgate and England Must Recall Southampton’s Danny Ings
A Return to Greatness for Danny Ings
Suffering through an injury-plagued campaign last season, the star forward still managed to record eight goals in 25 matches. Beginning his Saints career on-loan from Liverpool, Ings joined the Saints on a permanent basis this past summer. Coming off his best goal-scoring season since 2014/15 when he played for Burnley, Ings still managed to enter the current campaign as a second choice option for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Starting just three of Southampton’s opening six matches, Ings tallied just one goal as well as a single assist. However, with summer signing Che Adams struggling, Danny Ings would regain his position as the club’s first-choice striker. From this point, Ings never looked back.
In the starting XI for 15 of the Saints next 16 Premier League matches, Danny Ings has truly been on fire. In that time, Ings has gone on to score a whopping 13-goals propelling himself all the way up to second place in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot. Not only that, but Ings has also been the Premier League’s top scorer over that same time frame.
Showing both excellent form as well as amazing leadership over this period, Danny Ings has no doubt earned himself a reward. That reward being a recall into the England National Team.
Striker Depth an Issue for Gareth Southgate and England
Coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, Gareth Southgate’s England currently has some major question marks. Current England captain and star striker Harry Kane is now a doubt for the 2020 European Championships. Recent forward call-ups Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham are both hit-and-miss at times. Meanwhile, England’s number four striker Callum Wilson has recorded just five goals this season with Bournemouth.
With Kane missing through injury and Wilson struggling, there appear to be two striker openings in Gareth Southgate’s side. At only 27-years of age, Danny Ings represents a perfect call-up option for England. While players like Jamie Vardy represent a known quality, Danny Ings is someone that Southgate has never managed. With European Championship qualifying complete, why not use the upcoming friendlies to bring in some new faces?
Moreso, with Kane now doubtful for this summer’s European tournament, Gareth Southgate must find a new starting option. While current England players will definitely receive a look, it is those unknown quantities that could fill the position. With the next set of international friendlies scheduled for the end of March, Southgate will have plenty of time to seek out his replacement options.
Unless another unknown Englishman goes on a tear, Danny Ings will be the no doubt option in this equation. With Ings making his return to greatness, Gareth Southgate will be placed into a position where he must recall the Southampton forward. A recall that will undoubtedly be extremely deserved.
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