Exclusive – Collymore dismisses suggestions Januzaj should play for England

Stan Collymore has dismissed suggestions Manchester United teenager Adnan Januzaj should play international football for England.

The 18-year-old came to national prominence at the weekend when he scored both United’s goals in their 2-1 win at Sunderland, and this prompted Roy Hodgson to admit he would be interested in him representing the Three Lions.

The 18-year-old, who was born in Belgium to Albanian and Kosovon parents, will qualify through residency in 2018, but Collymore insists the England team should be made up of Englishmen only.

He told Drivetime: “I’m not in favour [of this idea]. I know there’s an argument that if you can’t beat them, join them, but just because other countries do it, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the way to go.

“The problem I have with this is if we replicate Januzaj times six or seven - and we all know Football Associations if given an inch will take a yard because they just look at qualifying for World Cups and European Championships - where does this leave Greg Dyke’s grand vision of developing players and coaches?

“Where does that leave the likes of Tom Carroll, Andros Townsend and Tom Ince?

“It left me feeling a bit weird seeing Roy Hodgson talking openly about a player who isn’t at the moment eligible to play for England, and neglecting to talk about other players and what impact it might have on their development.

“I can see why nations would want to flout the rules and bring in passport-convenient players, but that’s one of the reasons I don’t watch rugby or cricket anymore because it’s not the English national team.

“It’s not one or two players I’m worried about, it’s when it becomes six or seven. The FA is under great pressure to get success and we will neglect our young players for the easy option.

“There will be people doing it [playing for England] for convenience and for pounds, shillings and pence and that goes against what representing your country should be about.”