ADAM WEBSTER was drawing nearer to a maiden England call-up final March earlier than harm scuppered his possibilities.
Now the centre-back is being tipped for worldwide honours as soon as once more on account of his wonderful latest type for high-flying Brighton.
Webster, 27, gained Albion a level towards Chelsea on Tuesday with a belting header simply earlier than the hour from Alexis Mac Allister’s nook.
It gave Blues stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga completely no likelihood and capped a improbable show alongside the equally-impressive Dan Burn towards the champions of Europe.
Former Three Lions defender Jamie Carragher was raving about Webster after the sport.
The Liverpool legend tweeted: “Adam Webster’s passing out from the again, with each ft is best than every other English central defender.”
Webster definitely is a rarity together with his ease on each ft in addition to his coolness beneath strain on the ball.
He matches completely into the possession-based recreation Graham Potter needs to play, constructing from the again.
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And that was precisely why Potter made Webster Brighton’s document signing when signing him for £20million from Bristol Metropolis shortly after taking the Albion job in 2019.
The Chichester-born defender has needed to do issues the exhausting manner, incomes his approach to the massive time by taking part in up the leagues.
He got here by way of at Portsmouth, struggling relegation to League Two with the South-Coast facet in 2013 and even happening mortgage to non-league Aldershot that 12 months.
Strikes to Ipswich after which Ashton Gate then adopted, earlier than his arrival within the Premier League three years in the past.
He was a part of a formidable again three together with Lewis Dunk and Ben White - who subsequently joined Arsenal for £50m - final season and was impressing Gareth Southgate and his FA talent-spotters.
However ankle ligament harm ruined the opportunity of a call-up earlier than the March internationals and saved him out for 2 months.
ENGLAND NEXT?
Harm has been a difficulty this time period too with a six-week lay-off in September as a result of hamstring bother.
But he has actually come into his personal over the festive interval and shaped a rock-solid partnership with Burn whereas captain Dunk has been out injured.
With England not precisely blessed for top-quality centre-backs past John Stones, it's simple to see why Southgate could be taking a look at Webster.
Harry Maguire has been dependable for his nation however has suffered a nightmare season for Manchester United.
There have been query marks about Tyrone Mings and Conor Coady’s potential on the very high stage, whereas White continues to be discovering his ft at Arsenal.
Webster’s technical potential, bodily prowess - he stands at 6ft3ins - and flexibility at taking part in in both a again 4 or again three will all be interesting to the nationwide boss.
Statistically, Webster has been extra spectacular this season within the Premier League than his England competitors in a variety of areas.
Most notably is his passing per 90 minutes - each in quantity but additionally variety of passes ahead.
I don’t see anyone else with the identical stage of attributes that Adam Webster has
Graham Potter
He's averagine 77.1 passes a recreation this time period, greater than Stones (71.0) and miles higher than Maguire (57.4)C, White (50.7), Mings (47.5) and Coady (41.4).
However what's extra eye-catching is his passes going ahead - ie not taking part in protected - per 90.
Webster is averaging 35.6, in comparison with Stones (23.0), Maguire (21.2), White (19.6), Mings (19.1) and Coady (12.4).
He definitely appears to be thriving in Potter’s affected person, passing recreation.
However he's additionally high of the charts towards the opposite 5 for tackles per 90 too, with nobody coming near his common of two.0 a match.
The tactically-astute Potter definitely thinks his central defender could be worthy of a call-up.
Albion’s in-vogue boss stated: “I don’t see anyone else with the identical stage of attributes that Adam Webster has.
“By way of if you wish to construct from the again, if you happen to to hold the ball, if you wish to progress from these areas, he’s improbable. That’s his high quality.
“Now it’s a case of him having fun with his soccer with us, preserve taking part in, be harm free after which I believe something is feasible with him.”
Webster will probably be praying he stays wholesome and retains up his high-quality type.
If he can try this, then that pleasant towards Switzerland in March is a sensible goal for a participant who has definitely paid his dues.
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