Eze does it! After a series of setbacks, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze fully deserves England nod

“Anything worth having doesn’t come easy,” explains Chris Ramsey, Eberechi Eze’s former mentor at QPR.

Eze, 24, will no doubt agree that he has overcome all sorts of obstacles on his way to a hard-earned first call-up for England.

Released four times, the doubters at QPR, a serious Achilles tendon injury suffered brutally on the day he last learned he had been selected by England – Crystal Palace star Eze has certainly been tested.

But thanks to the faith and unwavering confidence of the religious Eze, he has fought his way through it all to become one of the Premier League’s most entertaining talents.

Before he had even kicked a ball professionally, Eze had suffered enough setbacks to discourage any young hopes – he was let loose by Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and Millwall.

But he continued to chase his dreams and his agent – ex-Tottenham youngster Matt Warner – recommended Eze to his former Spurs coach Ramsey.

Speaking to Mail Sport in 2021, Eze described how crucial his time and some of his coaches at QPR – Ramsey, Andy Impey and Paul Hall – were to the player he had become.

“They have regained that belief in myself that I had when I was young, at Arsenal,” said Eze. “Once I had that at Under 23, I felt unstoppable.

“It wasn’t until I got to QPR that I clicked with those guys and started unlocking new levels that I didn’t know I had in terms of my work rate, running stats, things like that.”

QPR technical director Ramsey said: ‘He is an excellent person. He was very engaging, willing to learn.

“Most flair players now think flair is enough, but myself, Andy and Paul were able to engage with him on different levels and at different times and use our individual input to try and unlock what he had.

“We were looking at someone who was really desperate to get some patience, which you really need in player development and also just a little bit of care, although I’m not saying he didn’t get that in his previous places.”

During his trial, a week-long camp in Lilleshall with QPR’s Under 18s and reserves, Eze’s ability, touch and poise quickly became apparent.

His decision-making, passing and physicality took some polishing, but Ramsey recalls that “it was just a matter of patience.”

“He worked hard,” Ramsey explained. “We did clinics in the afternoon after training with him and many other players. There were seven or eight who had a good work ethic and pushed each other.

“He was always one of the first to work hard on his set pieces and finishing there. He was totally involved in what we were doing and pushed himself to where he is today. He used his adversity to make sure he was in the clinics and training properly.

“People see his finishing but look at the passing. It’s sublime. Did you see the ball he played for Palace’s first goal against Fulham? He’s actually a better assistant. It was just about working on unlocking the skills he had.

‘His outstanding personality has enabled him to do so. He always picks up the phone, even for a chat. Call him and he will always call you back.

“I think he still keeps in touch with his old Under 23 group. He’s not one of those who will say, “Oh, now I’m here”. I’m sure if one of them texts or calls, he’ll pick up.

“Although he’s a grown man now, there’s no air and grace about him — it’s still like you’re speaking to the boy who ended up. He’s still willing to listen to bits that will make him better and any top player, that’s what they do. They don’t shut themselves off from things.’

Eze’s entry into QPR was mutually beneficial – he finally found the platform he had long sought, while Rangers needed promising players whose development they could accelerate.

Five months after joining, Eze made his first-team debut in January 2017 and by the time he left for Palace in 2020, he had become the best player in the Championship.

But Ramsey added, “It’s not a smooth story. When he first came into the QPR team there were many doubters around. People who thought he wouldn’t make it said, “He doesn’t run, he doesn’t tackle”.

“Everyone sees him now, but nobody realizes the absolute stick he used to get from people. There was a season where he was completely butchered on social media and that really affected him.”

In addition to his family, in Ramsey, Hall, Impey and director of football Les Ferdinand, Eze had a support network at QPR who thought of him immensely and were able to reassure him and fight for him when needed. With their help, he flourished and earned his move to Palace.

Eze was all set to be rewarded for his form during his first season at Selhurst Park with inclusion in Southgate’s provisional Euro 2020 squad, the report coming through on the same day in May that he suffered an Achilles tendon injury in training.

That was another major hurdle, but his immediate response was to ask the medics treating him about the fastest time anyone had previously recovered from an Achilles tendon rupture and aim to overcome it.

He succeeded and returned to training about four months later after following every step of his rehabilitation process to the letter. There was no whining or dwelling on his plight – just a positivity and an unwavering belief that it was just a matter of when he would get back to his best, not if.

Roy Hodgson’s return to Palace coincided with Eze’s return: six goals and one assist under the veteran manager. And now a call-up for England.

Ramsey said: ‘While he’s also a great footballer, he’s a great person and when you look at where he’s going to be and what he’s going to do, he deserves it. Really deserves it.’