Is Ings ready for Three Lions?

Euro 2020 is just five months away and England boss Gareth Southgate will no doubt be paying close attention to the current form of Southampton hotshot Danny Ings.

In this article, Playmaker considers whether Ings' prolific form is likely to last and whether the former Liverpool man's goalscoring heroics are deserving of an international recall. 

With Harry Kane's ruptured hamstring ruling him out for a long stretch, possibly to the end of the season, there is a possibility that Southgate will not be able to call upon a match-fit Kane come Euro 2020.

Being shorn of your top marksman, captain and talisman will be a fairly big deal for Southgate and England...but, for once, the Three Lions have a host of other strong striking options.

Other possible England number 9s include Marcus Rashford, Callum Wilson and Tammy Abraham...with Danny Ings coming up strong as an outside bet.

Bang in form

The 27-year-old is in the best form of his career: with 10 goals in his last 11 Premier League games for Southampton underlining what a threat he can be.

Second in the top flight goal charts with 14 goals - only behind 17-goal compatriot Jamie Vardy, who has retired from international duty - Ings looks to have put the string of horror injuries that plagued his stint at Liverpool firmly behind him.

Currently level with Arsenal and Everton in 12th place, Southampton's resurrection from relegation fodder to a mid-table team looking up the table rather than down it has much to do with the form of their frontman.

A quick look at the hottest shots across Europe's top leagues clearly illustrates Ings' quality - only Leipzig's Timo Werner scoring more league goals than the Southampton forward across the continent from the start of last November. 

🗓️Most league goals since November 1st (UEFA's top five leagues):

12⚽️: Timo Werner
10⚽️: 🔴⚪️DANNY INGS🔴⚪️
9⚽️: Lionel Messi, Marcus Rashford
8⚽️: C. Ronaldo, J. Vardy, C. Immobile
7⚽️: K. Mbappe, R. Lukaku, P.E. Aubameyang, C. Avila#SaintsFC@IngsDanny @SouthamptonFC pic.twitter.com/aA32fKmTTL

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 11, 2020

Saints' saviour

It's no surprise, therefore, that Southampton are heavily reliant on Ings' goalscoring prowess: the sharp forward scoring over half of his team's goals this season - 14 goals out of 27 goals this season in the top flight. 

Ings has already earned a single senior cap under previous boss Roy Hodgson, back in 2015 in a friendly against Lithuania - and if he maintains his form he is now a serious candidate to be called up for England's next friendlies, against Italy and Denmark, in March.

Is Ings ready for England? His current stats suggest he just might be. 

Back in October when @IngsDanny was STILL scoring goals! 🔥

Be in that number as #SaintsFC take on #Wolves in the reverse fixture at St Mary's:

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 17, 2020