Taylor Harwood-Bellis will turn to future father-in-law Roy Keane for advice on making his senior England debut – as he insists ‘everything is focused on Greece’
Taylor Harwood-Bellis will turn to one of football’s most famous and feared voices for advice on his 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’m taking a lot of advice on board,” said Harwood-Bellis, who was named in Lee Carsley’s squad for the Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Manchester City fan Harwood-Bellis said nothing has yet been said in the respective households about the clash against Keane’s homeland.
“No, everything is focused on Greece at the moment,” Harwood-Bellis added. ‘It’s a big match with the result at home [a 2-1 defeat at Wembley]. We want to go there and get a result.
Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis is preparing for his debut for the England first team
Harwood-Bellis is engaged to Man United legend Roy Keane’s daughter, Leah
‘My family will want to be there [at Wembley against Ireland] to see if I can play a role or even be involved, which is huge for me and my family.”
England realistically need to win both games to maintain their hopes of 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 had 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 called my dad and he was very proud of the fact that I had played for England in all age groups and was now in the seniors. My whole family was thrilled.
“One of the first people to message was Aaron Ramsdale, he messaged straight away. He’s one of my friends at Southampton.’
Football runs in the Harwood-Bellis family, not just the in-laws. His sister Rebecca was once a youth basketball international in Great Britain. His uncle Steve is chairman of their local team Stockport County, while his father spent matchdays as the mascot of the Vernon Bear club – a cuddlier dad than his future father-in-law.
If selected, he would follow in the footsteps of England internationals Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo, who are also from the same part of Greater Manchester. “I think there’s just something in the air in Stockport,” he said. ‘It’s a good city, good people, good club.’
Harwood-Bellis joined Saints from City this summer after captaining Carsley’s under-21 side to European Championship glory.
Harwood-Bellis joined Saints from Man City this summer after captaining Lee Carsley’s under-21 side to European Championship glory
England’s interim 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 field, and they are great guys to be around,” he said.
‘Vincent played a big role. I had the better part of a year and a half under him, so he helped me a lot. It has personally helped me grow as a player and as a person.
‘I like to be seen as a leader. I like to help people who want to come to me as their leader.”