Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has praised the attitude of forward Rio Ngumoha and said he "absolutely deserves" his call up to the England national team.
Ngumoha earned his first senior cap for England in a friendly against New Zealand back in June, having been included in Thomas Tuchel's pre-World Cup training camp.
The 18-year-old is one of a number of players who will be hoping to make an impression on the England boss in the upcoming international break, as well as midfielder Alex Scott who worked under Iraola at AFC Bournemouth.
"Very happy for both," Iraola said. "I think they both absolutely deserve it. They both also went to help the national team before the tournament and I am sure they both did a good job. I can only speak so well about both. It's very deserved, they are very ready and I hope they both enjoy it."
Ngumoha has already made five appearances for Liverpool this season and started in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup. While the forward has traditionally played on the left, Iraola prefers his wingers to play on both flanks and has praised the way Ngumoha has embraced the challenge.
"The other day, for example, against Spurs he probably didn't have his best start to the game but I like how he came back from that," the Liverpool boss said. "He lost a couple of duels at the beginning. [Destiny] Udogie is a very strong player. But after, he did his job. In the first two goals, he appears. Everything comes from the situations he goes one v one and he takes good decisions.
"The play finishes on the other side but he is part of that build up for the goal and that is what we are trying to put into him. He has to still adapt to the rhythm of the league because he is still very young, he has just turned 18. But has the quality to be involved in those kind of plays and I'm liking especially his attitude, because he's not like: 'I prefer to play here.' He's ready to do what we need. I'm very happy also because they've called him for the national team."
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This weekend will see Iraola return to the Vitality Stadium to face former club Bournemouth, where he will be hoping to oversee his second Premier League victory of the season.
Asked how he feels about facing his old team, Iraola said: "I think in the personal side I'm really looking forward to meeting and hugging them, players that I love, staff that I have worked with that I appreciate so much. I was pushing for them yesterday when they were playing their first European game. I wish them all the best.
"But there is another part that is the most important one right now. That we need to go there and win and beat them and be as ruthless as possible. And leave all the talking for after the game."
