Gareth Southgate is growing resigned to Callum Hudson-Odoi switching international allegiance to Ghana after the Chelsea forward rejected an Under 21 call-up for the European Championship qualifiers against Romania and Kosovo earlier this month.
Hudson-Odoi has dual nationality and under FIFA rules is eligible to switch because he has not represented England at the finals of a major tournament, and all of his three competitive senior appearances came before the age of 21.
Hudson-Odoi would have to wait until November 2022 to represent Ghana — three years after his last appearance for England — but given that would enable him to play in the World Cup in Qatar, it remains an attractive option.