Taylor Harwood-Bellis will turn to one of the most famous and feared footballing voices for advice on making his senior England debut – future father-in-law Roy Keane.
The Southampton defender is engaged to Keane’s daughter Leah and revealed he often leans on the Manchester United legend for support.
‘It’s good and I take a lot of advice,’ said Harwood-Bellis, who was called into Lee Carsley’s squad for the Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Manchester City fan Harwood-Bellis said nothing has yet been mentioned in the respective households about the clash against Keane’s home country.
‘No, everything is focused on Greece at the minute,’ added Harwood-Bellis. ‘It’s a big game with the result at home [a 2-1 defeat at Wembley]. We want to go over there and get a result.
Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis is gearing up for his debut for England’s first-team
Harwood-Bellis is engaged to the daughter of Man United legend Roy Keane, Leah
‘My family will want to be there [at Wembley against Ireland] to see if I feature or even just be involved, which is massive for me and my family.’
England realistically need to win both games to maintain their hopes of gaining promotion to League A of the Nations League.
Harwood-Bellis was with his fiancée when he got the call from Carsley to tell him he’d been selected. ‘I couldn’t quite believe it at first,’ he added. ‘It was a feeling of pride. I was with my partner. Then I phoned my dad and he was very proud, the fact I had played for England through the age groups and now I was in the seniors. All my family were delighted.
‘One of the first people to message was Aaron Ramsdale, he messaged straight away. He’s one of my mates at Southampton.’
Football runs in the Harwood-Bellis family, not just with the in-laws. His sister Rebecca was once a Great Britain youth basketball international. His uncle Steve is president of their local team Stockport County while his dad used to spend matchdays as the Vernon Bear club mascot – a cuddlier dad, then, than his future father-in-law.
If selected, he would follow in the footsteps of England internationals Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo, who also hail from the same part of Greater Manchester. ‘Just something in the air in Stockport, I think,’ he said. ‘It’s a good town, good people, good club.’
Harwood-Bellis joined Saints from City in the summer after captaining Carsley’s under-21s side to European Championship glory.
Harwood-Bellis joined Saints from Man City in the summer after captaining Lee Carsley’s under-21s side to European Championship glory
The interim England boss has praised the 22-year-old for his leadership, with the youngster having learned from the likes of John Stones and Kyle Walker at City while also playing under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
‘John and Kyle were big influences, big characters and both leaders so they are always there to help on and off the pitch and are good guys to be around,’ he said.
‘Vincent was a massive part. I had the best part of a year and a half under him so he’s helped me massively. Helped me personally to grow as a player and a human being as well.
‘I like being seen as a leader. I like helping people who might want to come to me as their leader.’