Fulham manager Scott Parker believes Tosin Adarabioyo should be targeting an England call-up as the defender prepares to face his old club Manchester City tomorrow.
Adarabioyo left Manchester City, whom he had been with since the age of five, in October having grown frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities at the Etihad Stadium. The 23 year-old has swiftly established himself at the heart of a much improved Fulham defence, making 25 appearances and looking very much at home in the top flight.
Parker, who revealed he has had his eye on Adarabioyo since his days coaching the Tottenham youth team, told his pre-match press conference that international honours would be realistic if the centre back continues his impressive development at Craven Cottage.
That [an England call-up] can be a goal for Tosin. I still think there are elements where he can improve for sure. I see that every day.
“I saw him at Blackburn last year, I saw him play for the under-23s at City, his biggest attribute was certainly with the ball. Where I think he has improved drastically is without it. Defensively doing his work.
“That’s not to say defensively he wasn’t top, but certainly, I think I knew when we were bringing him in that he is a player that has been brought up and schooled as a ball-playing centre-half. When we brought him in, first of all, he needed to realise that he is going to be defending a lot at times in our team, compared to a City or a top side. For defenders, sometimes that’s a big transition. That’s sometimes hard.
“You need to have that instinct for defending really. I think over the course of this season, he is defending the box much better, with headers. I think he has improved drastically in that element. What you see on the ball is a player that is a top, top player.”
