Jean-Philippe Mateta says Eberechi Eze should be selected if England are to win the European Championship this summer.
Eze, like Mateta, enjoyed the end of the campaign for the Eagles, scoring five times and registering two assists to help them finish in tenth place.
Three Lions coach Gareth Southgate will be the one to pick his team for the tournament in Germany and, having missed out on selection in March due to injury, Mateta believes his Palace team-mate could be key to success.
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He told Sky Sports: “[Southgate] he must call her. You have to, if you want to win.”
Eze, 25, who has played in two tournaments, was very vocal when asked about the tournament, he said: “I’m just here, man, I’m just trying to enjoy it, playing football.
“If I am called, so be it.”
‘The players did their best’
Eze is not the only Eagles man backed for inclusion, with midfielder Adam Wharton enjoying a fine start to Premier League life following the 20-year-old’s move from Blackburn in January.
Meanwhile, Dean Henderson will be looking for a goalkeeper’s place and Marc Guehi could return to defense following injury.
And while manager Oliver Glasner admitted Southgate had the final say, he said his in-form stars had given themselves the best chance.
The Austrian player said: “Of course if they are selected we wish the best for all our players.
“The players have done what they can’t do, now it’s up to Gareth Southgate. We have a few players who can be selected and we will see.
“I don’t give advice to any manager of the national team. I know my players, all of them have played well in the past weeks, since us [arrived] here, they deserve to be selected for the national team, but I don’t know all the other players.
“It’s Southgate’s job to find the right one, it’s not my job, so on Tuesday I’d like to be at home.
“I would like to be on the stage but it is raining at home, I will learn what is happening.”
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