Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is set to shine upon his return from injury after Agbonlahor suggests an England call-up.
Jacob Ramsey has only made two Aston Villa appearances this season, both from the bench after an injury disrupted his start, but his talent is such that Gareth Southgate should be keeping an eye on him.
TalkSPORT pundit and former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor believes England manager Gareth Southgate should look at more Villa players following Ezri Konsa’s first call-up, with Ramsey at the top of the list.
An injury setback has hampered his progress this season, but when he returns, Southgate should keep an eye on him, with Agbonlahor’s calls still fresh in his mind.
“He’s got to start picking more Villa players,” said Agbonlahor, who was speaking live on talkSPORT on November 16th. “When Jacob Ramsey gets fit again, come and watch him more.” He’s another who will make it into that squad.”
Ramsey suffered an unfortunate injury blow with a broken metatarsal that kept him out for ten weeks, and he suffered another foot injury upon his return in September. According to Birmingham Live [13 November], he could make a comeback against Tottenham after the international break.
Ramsey averaged just 24 minutes per game in two Premier League appearances before suffering an injury, but he scored in a 6-1 thrashing of Brighton while also averaging 1.5 shots per game and 1.0 shots on target.
These offensive numbers were added to an 87% passing accuracy, 2.0 interceptions per game, 1.0 ball recoveries, and 3.0 total duels won per game, with a 100% aerial duel success rate. [Sofascore]
Looking back to last season, when Ramsey appeared in 35 games, 31 of which were starts, it’s easy to see why he’s so highly regarded at Villa Park.
He scored six goals from midfield, exceeding his expected goal total of 5.05, while averaging 0.9 shots per game and not being afraid to take a shot when given a chance. His seven assists also demonstrated that he is more than just an offensive force, as his creative numbers are also impressive. [Sofascore]
The average of 2.0 tackles per game has remained consistent, while 4.6 duels won per game and 1.3 fouls drawn demonstrate how effective he can be at relieving pressure on his team.
Ramsey’s season could begin after the international break with a match against Tottenham, and Southgate should keep an eye on his progress. There’s no reason he can’t improve on his performance from last season and earn a spot in England’s squad.
