Ray Parlour, has warned Chelsea striker, Tammy Abraham, against ditching the England national team for the Super Eagles.
Abraham has started off the 2019/20 season with Chelsea on a blistering form, scoring four goals in four games, which has attracted interest from Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation have been trying to lure the Chelsea striker, who has two non-competitive caps for England to switch allegiance.
Speaking on Talk Sport’s programme, The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Parlour said Abraham would get his chance with the Three Lions if he remained patient.
“If he keeps scoring goals, he certainly will get into the England squad because Jamie Vardy is obviously retired and they’re lacking a little bit up front,” he told TalkSport.
“He’s got an opportunity to be in the squad, but obviously he won’t be in front of Harry Kane.”
Parlour, however, believes Abraham should stick with England, having played for them at the age grade levels.
“Once you start as a youngster to play for a country, I think you should stick with them,” Parlour added.
“It’s up to the player; he’s looking at this situation, looking forward, whether he’ll get an opportunity, but he said no, I want to try and play for this country (England).
“It’s a battle, because there are a lot of good players at England, and it’s not easy to get into the squad.
“You’ll get a lot more caps if you go elsewhere. If he goes to Nigeria, he will get quite a few caps, lot more than he will get playing for England.”
He also called England coach, Gareth Southgate, to give Abraham assurances he has the youngster in his plans.
“As a manager, you’d be on the phone straight away saying, ‘You’re in my plans, keep playing as you are, and you’ll get an opportunity’. That’s what I’d be doing if I was Gareth Southgate.”
Meanwhile, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, was quoted as saying the youngster will make a final decision on playing for the Eagles by April 2020.