Lee Carsley may think that English football is lacking an array of talented No 9s – but Liam Delap is out to prove there is an old fashioned centre forward right under his nose.
Carsley explained in his exclusive sit-down with Mail Sport that England are lacking in two key areas of the pitch, one of which was up top in the striker department behind talisman Harry Kane.
But Delap, who has been a revelation with Ipswich Town in his first season in the Premier League scoring 10 goals, is adamant a traditional No 9 skillset won’t be phased out of the game.
‘100 per cent not,’ Delap said, when asked if his position was going out of fashion. ‘I think it’s an important role of the team, as is every position.
‘The strikers probably get criticised more if they are not scoring or assisting but I think there is always a team and everyone needs a striker!
‘Whether you are playing well and not scoring or scoring I think it’s important. I don’t think it’s gone out of fashion.’
Liam Delap is out to prove that his position a n old-fashioned centre forward – is not dying out
England under-21s boss Lee Carsley highlighted the striker area as a position England are lacking depth in
Harry Kane (right) is the main man in that position – but Delap is looking to reach his heights
Hold-up play is an area that Delap has drawn praise in but he believes he can get even better.
His strength at young age is down to a multitude of factors but wrestling in the garden with dad Rory, who is best known for his lethal long throw during his time at Stoke City, has certainly left its mark.
‘I’ve got a little brother as well so it was always football and rugby in the garden and wrestling each other,’ he said.
‘He’s even tougher than me so it taught me a lot and where I got most of it from as a kid.’
But did his dad at least take it lightly?
‘Obviously not! Me and my brother were the same growing up. We loved that side of it being aggressive and boys so it was fun.’
Delap was one of three members of Carsley’s squad – Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis the other two – who were asked to train with Thomas Tuchel and the England senior team earlier this week which gave Delap a taste of the levels he’s going to need to reach to lead the line for his country for the next decade-plus.
The 22-year-old is very grounded and composed but did admit he was taken aback by just how ruthless Harry Kane is, even in training.
Much of his strength came from wrestling with dad Rory (pictured) and his brother in the garden growing up
He spoke of the ruthlessness of Kane – even in training – and how he can learn from him
‘He is someone I’ve looked up to for ages and he’s got everything,’ Delap added.
‘He’s had the most amazing career and he’s still flying so there’s someone as young as me to look up to him and then be able to watch him live is an incredible experience.
‘I had a little chat with him, he’s a really nice guy. I watched him enough in the shooting drill to take so much from him and he’s just incredible. I don’t know [specifics learned], just everything goes in!
‘His all-round game is incredible and he’s played at the top level for so long now but as a striker it’s something I really enjoy doing, to watch the best practice and it’s the best I’ve seen.’
Delap is generating plenty of interest this summer with Chelsea and Manchester United among his many admirers.
And it promises to be a major couple of years with a potential big-money move coupled with the U21 European Championships in Slovakia this summer before he hopes to find himself on the plane to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the seniors.
He knows he is not the finished article and he is OK with that. Delap spoke of Liverpool pair Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate being his toughest assignment so far this season but he has taken a lot from a campaign where he believes his game has improved exponentially.
‘It’s my first full season in the Premier League and you are always going to learn and improve,’ he said.
Delap said Virgil van Dijk (pictured) and Ibrahima Konate have been his hardest opponents so far this season
Still, he is in his first Premier League campaign and is looking to continue improving his game
‘The manager and the boys at Ipswich have really helped me with that and you know game by game I like to think I’m learning as much as I can and trying to implement that into the next game.
‘It’s the quality and physicality of the Premier League it’s so intense and so high.
‘I’ve obviously got fitter as the games have gone along. It’s making the most out of every moment because the quality, if you make a mistake in this league, they punish you.’
