Brighton defender Ben White was a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate's final 26-man squad for Euro 2020 - but his call-up came as no surprise to White's former Newport County team-mate Padraig Amond.
The Exiles forward spoke with us for the second edition of our fanzine 'The Mighty Delta', and he was convinced that White would one day go on to to play for the Three Lions after seeing him in action on loan at Rodney Parade.
Amond selected White in his '7evens' side, a team made up of the best players he'd played with throughout his career, and included the now 23-year-old centre-half under the category of "Rolls Royce”. Here's an extract from the interview...
"We signed Ben on loan at Newport when he was 19 and he was a joke. I signed on the night we played Leeds at Elland Road and, watching that game, he was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch. I remember turning to my agent after 15 minutes and saying ‘He is going to be some player’. He used to do my head in in training, as I’ve never seen anyone block so many footballs off the line.
"One moment that sticks with me was when the ball was crossed into me in a small-sided game and Ben’s blocked my header on the line. It’s come back to me, I’ve shot and he’s kept it out again...it’s then rolled to him and, as I’ve gone to press him, he’s just dragged his foot across the ball and megged me. Training ended right there!
"I’d be shocked if he’s not an England international very soon."
Amond obviously knows a player when he sees one...
💥 THE MIGHTY DELTA 3⃣ is on the loose💥
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 29, 2021
💪 Headline interview with #BrentfordFC's Mathias Jensen
💪 A fascinating feature on #BVB's Jude Bellingham
💪 Cult Hero catch-up with @R33Rocha
💪 Win a £40 @cultkits voucher
⬇ Download your FREE copy now!
👉 https://t.co/FjZpGaDTkH pic.twitter.com/pdVQ200DIS
 |  |
NameBenjamin William White Born/Age1997-10-08(26 -yrs-old) Nationality England PositionDefender (Right Back) / Defender (Centre Back) | |
|
