Micah Richards hails ‘incredible’ Harvey Barnes to make a late bid for England’s Euro 2020 squad

Micah Richards has backed Harvey Barnes to force his way into the England squad for next summer’s European Championships.  

Richards had previously worried that Barnes was not ‘clinical’ enough to make the squad, but now believes he will be ‘knocking’ Gareth Southgate‘s door. 

Richard says Barnes has ‘really stepped his game up’ and praised 22-year-old for his ‘movement, pace and link-up’ play over the festive period. 

Micah Richards (above) has backed Harvey Barnes to make the summer’s Euro’s squad

Richards has praised the 22-year-old (above) for his impressive ‘movement, pace and link-up’

Richards said: ‘This guy (Barnes) he is incredible. He wasn’t clinical enough in front of goal earlier in the season. 

‘His movement, pace, link up, he’s got to be knocking on the door for a place in the England squad for the Euros. He really has stepped his game up.’

Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has previously shared his delight with Barnes’ performances this season, saying he is ‘improving all the time’. 

Rodgers said: ‘His confidence at the level is improving all the time. Last season was his first full season at Premier League level so we’re trying to get him into areas to score more goals and to take more risks in the final third. 

Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers believes Barnes is ‘improving all the time’ and will add more goals

However, Barnes still faces stiff competition to get into Southgate’s squad for next summer

‘He practices a lot, he’s working on his finishing and shooting all the time.’ 

Barnes’ performances have not gone unnoticed by Southgate as the 22-year-old received his England call-up in October. 

He featured in Southgate’s squad for their triple-header against Wales, Belgium and Denmark.

However, Barnes still faces stiff competition for the Euro’s, with Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Nathan Redmond all battling it out to be Southgate’s wide men this summer.