Ghana coach Chris Hughton hopes he can convince Eddie Nketiah to switch to international football in the coming months.
Nketiah, 24, has represented England at youth level and is even the top scorer for the U21 team. He is expected to be available for his England debut in the coming days after being called up to the squad to face Australia on Friday and Italy next Tuesday.
The Arsenal striker has been tipped as a potential target for the Black Stars, as he is also eligible to represent Ghana through his parents. And it seems Hughton has not given up hope of removing Nketiah from the Three Lions.
According to The Sun, the Gunners forward remains on Hughton's radar and could still make the switch even if he plays against Australia on Friday. The current rules mean players can swap international allegiance as long as they haven't featured in a competitive fixture - which means Nketiah would no longer be eligible to represent Ghana if he plays in next week's Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.
Hughton, who previously managed in the Premier League at Tottenham and Norwich City, said of Nketiah: “Some players are very definite about what they want. Some are not so sure and some want to see how things develop. “I think that’s been the case with Eddie.
We would never say never to him switching to Ghana. But it’s always down to what the player wants.” Speaking last month, Nketiah revealed how proud he and his family were after he was called up to Gareth Southgate's squad for fixtures against Ukraine and Scotland. He said: “It's a really proud moment for me, my family and friends.
Nketiah, 24, has represented England at youth level and is even the top scorer for the U21 team.
It has been quite the journey to get here - a lot of ups and downs. “Once the call-up was there, an offer was on the table, it was really hard to turn down and something which I felt was a natural progression for myself at this stage.”
He added: “When I got the text it was surreal. I'm usually a calm guy, but I lost my temper for a second. It was an amazing moment – my whole family was truly moved. I've worked so hard to get here so it's great to receive that recognition. I don't think I said much, I just checked my phone to make sure it said: "selected".
“My parents are very emotional because they sacrificed a lot for me to come here. It was truly a joy to see the happiness and pride on their faces.