Club football the priority for Harvey Barnes at the moment

Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes says his priority at the moment is to secure a place in Brendan Rodgers’ side and not international football.

The 21-year old netted the winner – an absolute screamer – to seal a 2-1 victory against Sheffield United on Saturday, proving what he can do when his team needed him to.

However, not even such sumptuous a strike has guaranteed him a spot in the first-choice XI as yet.

To be brutally honest, it is a mystery as to why he is not starting week in and week out, given how much does he bring to the table. Nonetheless, he is prepared to work his heart out to be able to become a regular for Rodgers’ Leicester.

Only after that can he think of Gareth Southgate’s England, he says, as calls for him to be donning the Three Lions get louder and louder.

"“For me at the minute, it’s about club football.“I need to secure my place in the team.“That’s not something that’s on my mind at the minute.“It’s just about cementing my place in the team at Leicester, and making sure my performances and my stats are up there.“It’s too early for me.“You’re not going to get called up to the England team unless you’re playing for your club.”"

Like Ben Chilwell, James Maddison and Harry Maguire, Barnes is destined to be playing for England but it will take some time for him to reach that level.

He obviously has the ability, as has always been evident, though there remain elements in his game which he needs to work on – his finishing being one.

So far, Rodgers has preferred Maddison on the left rather than the middle for tactical reasons, but as the season progresses, Barnes should be able to make that position his own.

He is expected to start against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup second round at St. James’ Park on Wednesday, an opportunity that he would need to make the most of to make his case for the subsequent Premier league fixture against AFC Bournemouth.