How Harvey Barnes can become an England regular: Leicester

Harvey Barnes made a very assured and composed senior England debut on Thursday evening. The Leicester City player can be a Three Lions mainstay.

Harvey Barnes has everything all young boys and girls who aspire to be footballers could ever dream of – playing for England and Leicester City. What else could they possibly want?! Okay, so many those children or more grown English kids may actually want to play for Manchester City or Liverpool these day, but the sentiment still applies. In Leicestershire, anyway.

A Leicester City graduate of excellent stock

Barnes’s father, Paul, was a professional, too. Playing for a host of notable clubs, just in lower leagues. Barnes Jr. says his dad’s advice was essential in inspiring and nurturing his own footballing talent. The younger Barnes, a winger, also has the elder’s eye for goal; but Harvey is a winger, while Paul was the epitome of a striker. Barnes Jr. was always rated in the Foxes’ youth setup, going on to represent his country shows the Academy’s standing once more.

Performance on England debut, going forward

I watched as the 22 year old was happily introduced for his maiden Three Lions senior appearance. And what a brief but assured display it was from the Fox: he glided as confidently with the ball as he does at King Power Stadium; released the pass promptly; made some lovely turns; and showed versatility centrally as well as on the left and right sides.

Naturally, England boss Gareth Southgate will want to observe Barnes in training, games, along with increasingly for Leicester to make a decision – yet Barnes fit the side like a glove. If his decision-making, shooting accuracy and passing continues to be refined to the level of his providing, he might be an England regular in the future. Especially if other rivals for a place keep breaking rules.