Following Thursday night’s 4-0 triumph over Norwich City, Ben Parker believes Gareth Southgate should consider taking a Leeds United player to Euro 2024 this summer.
Leeds secured a place in the play-off final against either Southampton or West Brom on Friday night with a standout performance that was perhaps the Yorkshire club’s greatest of the entire 2023-24 campaign.
Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville all scored as Leeds advanced to the final at Wembley on May 26, despite drawing the first leg at Carrow Road.
Archie Gray started in the no.10 position in East Anglia but switched to right-back on Thursday night when Sam Byram suffered a muscular injury and Connor Roberts was deemed insufficiently fit.
Gray was sensational on the right side of the defence, making a number of mazy runs and waltzing past Norwich defenders like they were statues. Josh Windass rated Leeds’ talent as “incredible”.
Parker, a former Leeds defender, also commented on the Thorp Arch academy product and joked that Southgate should take Gray to Germany this summer.
Parker believes Archie Gray should go to Euro 2024 with England.
Despite Scotland’s attempts to persuade Gray to follow in the footsteps of Great Uncle Eddie Gray, Grandfather Frank Gray, and Father Andy Gray, the versatile Leeds player has chosen to represent England.
Gray has already progressed from playing for the U17 team this season to scoring for the U21s under Lee Carsley. As Euro 2024 approaches, Parker told LS11 that Gray should be included in England’s side.
“How does he make it seem so easy? He looks like he’s played 200 games. A very exceptional talent. “Take Archie to the Euros, come on, let’s have it,” Parker said after Thursday night’s play-off win.
What Gareth Southgate said about Leeds’ potential Gray
While Parker’s words may have been a little ambitious, Gray is on Southgate’s radar. Recently, the England manager named a number of players who are excelling in England’s U21 squad, particularly in midfield.
“There are some players with the Under-21s who are doing exceptionally well, Archie Gray at Leeds is doing very, very well I have to say, so there are a number of players in that group we could move in.”
While Euro 2024 may be a step too far for Leeds in the Championship, Gray will undoubtedly become an England international at some point. Hopefully, this is while he is still with Leeds.