Three Sunderland players are being considered as potential additions to England’s EURO 2028 squad, according to Simeon Gholam, the EFL editor for Sky Sports. Gholam has identified Anthony Patterson, Jobe Bellingham, and Jack Clarke as possible stars who could join the Three Lions’ squad in five years.
The EURO 2028 tournament has been confirmed to be hosted by the UK and Northern Ireland, with some matches scheduled to take place in the North-East at St. James’ Park. While many are eager to speculate on who might make it into the England senior team, prominent names like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice have already been discussed.
However, Gholam suggests that there are numerous players currently playing in the English Football League (EFL) who have the potential to earn a spot on the national team. Gholam references players such as Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker, and James Maddison, who started their careers in the lower leagues and went on to play in the World Cup. He believes that there’s no reason why this can’t happen again, particularly with players from clubs like Leeds United, Southampton, and Middlesbrough.
Among these prospects, Gholam singles out three key players from Sunderland. He speaks positively about Anthony Patterson, describing him as a consistent performer who played a significant role in their run to the play-offs last season. While he praises Patterson’s shot-stopping abilities and all-round goalkeeping skills, he notes that Patterson needs to improve his distribution. Nevertheless, Gholam sees Patterson as a promising young talent.
Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of Jude Bellingham, is another player Gholam believes could make the cut. Gholam acknowledges the challenge of comparing Jobe to his older brother, who is already playing for Real Madrid and garnering Ballon d’Or attention. Nonetheless, he describes Jobe as a very promising young prospect who is part of a talented, young Sunderland side.
Jack Clarke is arguably Sunderland’s standout player this season, and Gholam predicts that he could soon find a place in the England setup. Gholam highlights Clarke’s past moves that may have hindered his progress but notes that he’s now flourishing at Sunderland, on his way back to the Premier League, and a strong contender for the Championship Player of the Season award.
Jobe Bellingham appears to be the most likely of the three Sunderland players to make it to the national team, considering England’s recent shortage of quality in central midfield. As for Jack Clarke, he faces stiff competition for a spot in England’s attack. Anthony Patterson, on the other hand, hopes to emulate the success of Jordan Pickford but faces uncertainty about whether he’ll become a regular for the Three Lions, given the competition, including Aaron Ramsdale.