Gareth Southgate’s decision over Dominic Solanke’s inclusion in England’s Uefa Euro 2024 squad will depend on who the Three Lions manager “trusts more” among his forward options, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has said.
Iraola believes Solanke’s impressive tally will be “nicer” if the 26-year-old can reach 20 top-flight goals but says Southgate has a “very, very difficult job” to pick his squad for the tournament.
“I’m sure it’s not like Gareth Southgate is just looking at the numbers,” suggested Iraola, who has seen Solanke score 16 league goals in the Spaniard’s first campaign as Cherries coach.
“He will be looking at the performances. [Solanke’s] performances have been very, very good since the beginning of the season.
“It’s a matter of who fits better in his system, who he trusts more more. But it’s obvious that Dom Solanke is [maintaining] his merits to have a chance with the national team.”
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Iraola is “sure” Solanke can net at least another four times in Bournemouth’s remaining nine matches.
“He’s going to try to keep playing very well,” he said. “I think 16 is a good number but 20 is even better. It is a nicer one. I’m sure he will try to push and continue scoring goals.
“It’s not a matter of goals. It’s not like, ‘I have to score 20 goals to make my presence kind of mandatory’.
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️@DomSolanke has 16 @premierleague goals this season 🔥
No player has scored more in a single top flight campaign for #afcb 🏹 pic.twitter.com/L3prLmSBBh
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 1, 2024
“In the moments when he only focuses on scoring goals, he becomes a worse player and I think he is further from scoring goals.
“He has to make us play well so we can give him chances to score. I know he understands this and we are lucky to have him.”
Bournemouth v Palace: Solanke goals target
Former Chelsea and Liverpool prospect Solanke scored his second goal in two games to put Bournemouth ahead for the first time in their 2-1 win over visitors Everton on Saturday, moving them six points shy of seventh place.
They will seek a third consecutive home win when Crystal Palace visit the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday.
