Wayne Rooney backs Dominic Calvert-Lewin for England as Ethan Ampadu hails Leeds fans | OneFootball

Leeds United’s December upturn has framed debate beyond Elland Road, with Wayne Rooney backing Dominic Calvert-Lewin for an England recall and captain Ethan Ampadu praising the supporters, according to Leeds Live.

Daniel Farke’s side beat Crystal Palace 4-1 last weekend and are unbeaten this month. They visit Sunderland at the Stadium of Light after Christmas, then face Liverpool and Manchester United. After 17 games Leeds are four points clear of the drop, with West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the bottom three.

Calvert-Lewin, 28, has six goals in five matches and owns 11 caps with four England goals. “If he's fit he's such a handful to play against,” Rooney said on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show. “He's put himself in a position where Thomas Tuchel will have to be looking at him. He needs to keep this form up until the end of the season and then he gives himself a real chance.”

Gary Lineker struck a more cautious note. “Yeah of course he has (been in good form),” he said on The Rest Is Football. “I mean England will need a backup nine, but I think Ollie Watkins is way ahead of him at present I would say.”

Ampadu welcomed the connection with the away end after Palace. “It’s so special,” he told LUTV. “But they’ve still shown us that support to encourage us and to keep pushing us on to enjoy moments like that, it’s very good.”

Source: Leeds Live