Liverpool Receive Boost as Promising Winger Ngumoha Misses U17 World Cup
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England U17s head coach Neil Ryan unveiled his 21-man squad for the upcoming FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday, with no players from Liverpool Football Club included in the selection.
Liverpool will benefit from having winger Rio Ngumoha available during a crucial stretch of the season. The 17-year-old was eligible for selection but was ultimately omitted from the squad, a decision that provides a significant advantage to the Premier League champions as they navigate a demanding fixture list.
Ngumoha’s Rapid Ascent and England’s Qualification
Ngumoha’s exclusion comes after a period of rapid development for the young player. He previously represented England at the U17 level, making two appearances during the summer’s U17 Euros. Despite the Young Lions failing to advance beyond the group stage, their performance secured qualification for the expanded 48-nation World Cup in Qatar.
However, Ngumoha’s recent promotions – first to the U18s in September and then swiftly to the U19s – appear to have influenced Ryan’s decision. “The coach has clearly opted to build with players who are consistently featuring at those higher age levels,” a source close to the England setup stated.
Impact on Liverpool’s Schedule
The timing of the tournament – running from November 3 to November 27 – presented a potential disruption for Liverpool. England’s guaranteed participation until at least November 10 meant the club could have been without Ngumoha for a series of important matches.
Currently, Liverpool are one game into a challenging run of seven matches in just 22 days. This includes a Carabao Cup fourth-round clash against Crystal Palace, where Ngumoha could potentially earn another start. He last featured for Arne Slot’s side coming off the bench in the 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace on September 27, but opportunities are expected to increase in the coming weeks.
Other Eligible Players and England’s World Cup Prospects
Several other Liverpool academy players, including Joe Bradshaw, Josh Abe, La’more Lee Forrester, and Erik Farkas, were also eligible for selection. However, Ryan chose to prioritize players who participated in a recent U18s training camp.
Notably, the squad includes winger Ryan McAidoo, who previously attracted interest from Liverpool before joining Manchester City from Chelsea last year, and Reigan Heskey, the son of former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey. England has been drawn into Group E alongside Venezuela, Haiti, and Egypt, and are widely considered favorites to progress to the round of 32.
England will face Venezuela on November 4, Haiti on November 7, and Egypt on November 10.
