Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott impressed for England Under 21s during their win over Azerbaijan and he has since been tipped for a call-up to the senior squad

England Under 21s manager Lee Carsley has backed Harvey Elliott to earn a senior call-up after scoring twice for the young Lions against Azerbaijan on Friday afternoon.

Elliott, 20, has impressed for Liverpool this season but was snubbed by Gareth Southgate for the latest England squad ahead of friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

The ex-Fulham and Blackburn winger was instead called up for the U21s alongside Reds teammates Tyler Morton and Jarrel Quansah.

And Elliott showed exactly what he is capable of during England U21s’ thumping 5-1 win over Azerbaijan in Baku. He gave the young Lions the lead in the first-half with a neat touch and finish before adding their fourth and his second after the interval, tapping home from six yards out.

It takes Elliott’s tally to seven goals in six matches and is now the leading scorer across the whole of this Under 21 European Championship qualifying campaign. And boss Carsley has hinted Elliott could make a late push for the senior squad going into Euro 2024 if he can keep up his good form.

“The way he’s been playing every week for Liverpool, and the impact he’s made, means he’s putting himself in a great position,” Carsley said. “It was a really strong end to the season in a really strong team.

“He is connected to this team but there is never any temptation from me to keep them here. He’s got the ability to score all kinds of goals. If he can keep adding those, it’s a big thing and the senior team really value people who can put the numbers together.”

Elliott didn’t start against Manchester United in the FA Cup last Sunday but came on off the bench and scored in extra-time, though the Reds still managed to lose 4-3. Elliott deputised for Mohamed Salah on the right wing when the Egyptian was out injured and he is becoming a more important member of the Liverpool squad.

Harvey Elliott in action for Liverpool this season (
Image:
Getty Images)
Speaking back in December, Jurgen Klopp tipped Elliott to be “super influential” for the Reds in years to come. He said: “What we really forget from time to time is he is still super young. He has [played] an incredible amount of games already and top games.

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“Before the bad injury Harvey was the best player we had, he had the best performances definitely. Then he got badly injured, came back, took a while until he got up to speed again but what he showed in the last game and what he showed in a lot of moments when we bring him on, what he showed for England’s Under-21s, that’s all what Harvey Elliot can be.

“With his skillset he will be in the future super influential. He has to connect things, he has the ability to do that, he has the overview, he has the technique, the dynamic. He has it.”