England consider surprise call-up for EFL star who Neil Warnock hails as club’s best signing for many years

Neil Warnock has told talkSPORT that it would be fantastic if England decide to call up Middlesbrough sensation Will Lankshear. Our Transfer Notebook this week revealed that the EFL goal machine is in contention to be named in Thomas Tuchel’s squad on Friday . Former Tottenham striker Lankshear is the Championship’s top-scorer after bagging 13 goals in as many games. talkSPORT revealed that England boss Thomas Tuchel is believed to be keeping a keen eye on the 21-year-old , with scouts due to attend Boro’s trip to Wrexham on Wednesday. Sixteen members of Tuchel’s last England squad have had EFL experience, but not since Wilfried Zaha in 2012 has an outfield player donned a senior England shirt while playing in the Championship. Warnock, who has had spells in charge of 18 different sides during his 46-year managerial career, knows all about the difference in level. The legendary boss has overseen a total of 1,185 matches, including a four-match stint as Torquay United’s caretaker boss earlier this year. Asked about the experience of young players in the Championship, Warnock told Breakfast host Alan Brazil: “It’s very good for them. “The only thing is when you step up from the Championship to the Premier League, you don’t realise it’s such a quicker league, the Premier League – the defenders are quicker. You don’t get the time. “When you go in the Championship with somebody like Lankshear, it acclimatises them to what they’re doing. “They have to step up then, and I think it’s an easier challenge. “When I look at him right from the start of the season, before he’s scored all these, I thought, ‘Wow, this is the best signing they’ve made for many years’.” England scouts to watch Lankshear tonight Lankshear’s blistering start at Boro earned him his England Under-21 debut in September , in which he came off the bench to score. His performance against Wrexham on Wednesday evening could now dictate whether he makes a rapid-fire leap to the main squad. On whether Lankshear will be feeling the pressure, Brazil claimed: “I think he’ll know about it; the teammates will wind him up!” Warnock continued: “He’ll not expect to get in the England squad – If he gets in, it’s fantastic.” Lankshear joined Boro on a five-year contract , and talkSPORT have been told Spurs did NOT include a buy-back option in the deal . Lankshear, who scored 11 league goals for relegated Oxford United on loan last year, was backed by Adrian Durham to lead the line for England at Euro 2028 regardless of whether he’s called up this week. However, Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg said he had ‘no clue’ when asked if his star man would get the nod from Tuchel. “I have so many things to think about in terms of my own squad in terms of ins and outs and I have a brilliant squad working so hard so I let other people worry about that one.”