Dominic Solanke raised his game to new levels this season but it was not good enough to make England’s squad for the upcoming 2024 UEFA European Championship.
The AFC Bournemouth striker was one of the biggest omissions from Gareth Southgate’s 33-man provisional squad for the tournament after the list was released to the public on Tuesday, May 21.
According to Own Goal Nigeria, Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola, has urged Solanke to consider playing for the Super Eagles after being dropped from the Three Lions squad.
The 26-year-old striker, who scored 16 Premier League goals this season, has only made one appearance for England at senior level in an international friendly game in 2017.
Dom Solanke MISSES OUT on the first 33 man England group
— Dan George (@DanGeorgee) May 21, 2024
21 goals and 4 assists in all competitions this season, hard on the #AFCB man imo #ENG #Threelions 🍒 pic.twitter.com/paySyn3yQ6
The Cherries star is still eligible to play for Nigeria according to FIFA rules, as he has yet to feature in a competitive game for the Three Lions.
Sports Brief has outlined three major reasons why Solanke should consider playing for the Super Eagles and forgo his dreams of featuring for England.
3 reasons Solanke should join the Super Eagles
1. Solanke is an elite striker
Solanke is too good a striker to waste away waiting for a call-up to the England national team.
The 26-year-old striker’s superb form is the major reason Bournemouth did not end up getting relegated from the English Premier League this season, after netting 16 goals.
Only Erling Haaland (27), Cole Palmer (22), Alexander Isak (21), and Phil Foden (19) scored more goals in England’s topflight league than Solanke this season.
2. Solanke would be useful to Nigeria
Solanke would be one of the leading forwards in the Super Eagles set-up as opposed to playing as a backup striker for England should he even be called up by the Three Lions.
The 26-year-old forward can form a formidable attacking partnership with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface in the Nigeria attack.
3. England does not value Solanke
After getting snubbed from Gareth Southgate’s 33-man squad for Euro 2024, it became very obvious Solanke is not valued by the England national team.
Please tell me how Ivan Toney is getting picked ahead of Dom Solanke for England? Mind boggling. pic.twitter.com/wzN5GHTBWQ
— Logannffc🇧🇷 (@LeesLogan) April 13, 2024
Of all 12 forwards listed in England’s provisional squad, only Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer had a better goal contribution than the Bournemouth striker.
Marcus Rashford reacts to not being called to the England Squad for the Euros...
— Football Fans Tribe 🇳🇬 ⚽ (@FansTribeHQ) May 21, 2024
Notable Absentees from the English squad:
▪️ Marcus Rashford
▪️ Jadon Sancho
▪️ Dominic Solanke
▪️ Ben Chilwell
▪️ Reece James
▪️ Jordan Henderson
▪️ James Ward-Prowse
▪️ Kalvin Phillips
▪️ Eric… pic.twitter.com/ElqAHWzAQS
Solanke would barely make the England team for any major tournament unlike in Nigeria, where he will be almost certain to seal a spot in big competitions.
