PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke targets spot in England’s World Cup 2022 squad

PSV Eindhoven star Noni Madueke has revealed he is targeting a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next winter. 

The 19-year-old winger enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Dutch club last season, scoring nine goals and registering eight assists in the previous campaign, while he has began this term with four strikes in his opening four matches. 

Madueke picked up his first Three Lions Under-21 cap in March and the Barnet-born teenager is also eligible to play international football for Nigeria, but revealed he wants to feature in the World Cup next year. 

Madueke has four goals in four games so far for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven this season

The teenager told The Sun: ‘You never know how football goes. I try to take every day as it comes. My bread and butter is my club.

‘If I’m winning games with my club, if I could be at the World Cup in 15 months, it would be great.

‘There’s been no contact at the moment from them (England). The time for those decisions to be made I don’t think is now.’ 

Madueke is not the only young English player to weigh up a decision between Southgate’s Three Lions and Nigeria in recent years, with Bukayo Saka facing a similar decision before his rise to stardom for England. 

The 19-year-old was called up to Southgate’s squad last autumn after some excellent displays for Arsenal and his string of Three Lions appearances towards the end of 2020 ruled him out of switching to Nigeria later in his career.

Madueke, who can also play for Nigeria, has spent the last three seasons at the Dutch club

Madueke wants to emulate England star Bukayo Saka, who shone at Euro 2020 this summer

Saka would go on to play a starring role in England’s Euro 2020 campaign earlier this summer, with Madueke looking up to the Arsenal star in recent months. 

Speaking about Saka, Madueke added: ‘We played against each other all the time in the youth teams. He was always a great player, very efficient in front of goal.

‘The game came easy to him. He was like a fish in water. I’m happy for what he’s doing right now.

‘England had a great balance and a great team spirit, it seemed from the outside. They did the whole nation proud. 

The 19-year-old claims England did themselves proud at the summer Euro 2020 tournament 

‘It was unfortunate how it ended but it was a solid foundation to build on and try to win the next World Cup.’

Madueke was on the books at Tottenham before signing a three-year contract at PSV in 2018, despite a similar offer to join the Manchester United academy. He made his first professional appearances for the senior side during the 2019-20 season and his PSV record now sits at 13 goals in 36 career appearances.

The winger has been linked with a summer move to Premier League sides Leicester City and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.