Tottenham Hotspur teenage defender Malachi Hardy joined the England senior national team in training at St George’s Park this afternoon.
The 18-year-old Spurs academy centre-back has yet to make his first-team debut.
However, Hardy regularly played and trained with Roberto De Zerbi’s first-team squad during pre-season.
He has now been drafted in to train with England after Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento pulled out of international duty.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has been taking a look at some of the players in the country’s age-grade squads.
England’s under-21s, under-20s, under-19s, under-18s and under-17s are also training at St George’s Park, and it appears the Spurs teenage sensation has caught the German’s eye.
Hardy will be looking to force himself into De Zerbi’s plans this season.
The Watford-born defender was the captain of the England under-16s.
He has what it takes to become a commanding centre-back and a regular starter for both club and country in a couple of years from now.
Hardy’s calmness in and out of possession is one of his greatest traits, and Tottenham have a gem on their hands.
