Pundits Micah Richards and Chris Sutton agree that Fikoyo Tomori was a correct choice for the England squad ahead of June's fixtures, adding that he should be starting ahead of the likes of Harry Maguire.
Gareth Southgate announced his 27 players for the next Three Lions squad on Tuesday and Tomori was on the list. The defender left the Blues in 2021 when Milan exercised a £25million buy option following a successful six-month loan. Since joining the Italian club permanently, the 24-year-old has not only helped the club back in the UEFA Champions League but has played a crucial role in winning their first Scudetto in 11 years.
His performances under Stefano Piolo has earned him an England call-up for next month's UEFA Nations League games against Hungary, Germany and Italy where he will be up against Maguire, Conor Coady, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, John Stones and Arsenal defender Ben White for a spot at the heart of the defence.
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Micah Richards, speaking on Monday night, praised the England international for leaving the Premier League to test himself abroad and claimed he should be rewarded with a starting berth in the team, given how he has performed over the past 12 months.
"It’s amazing to go over there and win Serie A", Richards told talkSPORT. "I’m lost for words for him, normally when you go to Italy you’re on a downward spiral, he’s gone there on the up and he’s won the title. Ashley Cole went to Roma, in my era, he didn’t go there in his prime, had a couple of decent seasons, to go there in the prime of his career and we’re talking about should he be in the England squad? He should be starting."
Ex-England striker Chris Sutton added that Tomori's form has been better than a number of England defenders who have constantly been handed national appearances this season, pulling no punches when naming Manchester United captain Harry Maguire and saying that Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings 'hasn't been at it' this season.
Sutton said: "We have to marry that to the form Harry Maguire’s shown this season, he’s been miles off the pace. Tomori’s had a good season, Mings hasn’t been at it, Coady hasn’t probably had his best season, Stones has been okay. He has to be in the mix. Got a lot of admiration for him going over to Italy and being brave to do it. A lot of players stay in their comfort zone and he’s not one of them. He’s bearing the fruits of that, sensational season and a great chance of going the World Cup."
Tomori played in Frank Lampard's Chelsea team but after a number of disappointing performances, was sent out on loan to AC Milan with a £25m buy option, which the club activated. He has two England caps to his name, his first coming back in 2019 while playing at Stamford Bridge.
