REPORTED England target Leon Bailey is not ready to commit his international future to one country, according to his father.
The Bayer Leverkusen winger, 20, was tipped to be a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the World Cup just hours before it was confirmed.
Leon Bailey is not yet ready to commit his future to an international sideEPA
Jamaican-born Bailey’s international eligibility has been much-debated.
His dad and agent Craig Butler has previously claimed that his son will wait until he qualifies to play for Germany under residency rules after it emerged he did not meet the criteria to represent England.
Bailey has played for Jamaica at U23 level and is therefore not tied to the country of his birth, meaning he could declare himself for a different nation if he resides there long enough.
But this rule does not apply to any of the home nations and would rule him out of representing the Three Lions.
The winger was born in Jamaica but has been linked with an England call-upAP:Associated Press
Bailey’s father insists the Leverkusen star will take his time before deciding on his international pathAP:Associated Press
However, Butler told Goal that the omission from Southgate’s squad had nothing to do with Fifa rules and was a decision made by himself and Bailey.
He said: “It’s not that he didn’t make it, I didn’t supply them with the info they requested yet because we are not sure we are ready to commit to a national team yet.”
‘HUMBLE LION’ Leon Bailey trolls England fans ahead of World Cup squad announcementJamaica attempted to call up Bailey and his brother Kyle Butler, who also plays for Leverkusen, in March but the invite was rejected.
Butler instead told his sons to focus on their club careers after the JFF refused to interact with him on implementing new structures for development of home-based players.
He told Goal two months ago: “I have offered to show the JFF what I have learned from Belgium, Holland, Germany and even Slovakia on how to build a national program and fix the Jamaican football culture, but the JFF has refused to listen.
“Therefore, at this time, the boys will focus on their club careers.”
Bailey’s career has really taken off this season with the star bagging nine goals and six assists for the Bundesliga outfit.
Euro 2016
Tom Heaton
WAS called up as third-choice by Roy Hodgson, despite only playing in the Championship
World Cup 2014
Ross Barkley
PICKED ahead of Michael Carrick after only his first season as a starter for Everton
World Cup 2010
Stephen Warnock
SELECTED ahead of Leighton Baines after Everton man’s disappointing showing in the pre-tournament friendlies.
World Cup 2006
Theo Walcott
UNCAPPED and yet to even make a Premier League appearance when he was called up by Sven-Goran Eriksson
Euro 96
Phil Neville
AT 19, he was called up ahead of the more established Graeme Le Saux for the home tournament
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