Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl believes a fit Danny Ings must be part of England’s squad for this summer’s Euros.
However, Hasenhuttl says rather than worry about his chances of making Gareth Southgate’s squad, Ings needs to focus on helping the team achieve a successful end to the campaign.
Ings marked his return from a recent injury lay-off to inspire Saints’ fightback from 2-0 down to beat Burnley 3-2 last weekend.
MAILBOX: TAA can defend, Man Utd are ‘a total mystery’ and ‘garbage’ Liverpool
The 28-year-old former Liverpool frontman has not featured for England since the friendly against Wales during October 2020.
Ings is one of several players hoping to force their way back into Southgate’s summer plans by finding form over the closing weeks of the domestic campaign.
And Hasenhuttl maintains Ings should prioritise helping Saints climb the table and reach the FA Cup final over any England ambitions.
“If he has a (place in the) Euros or not, he is part of this club,” said Hasenhuttl.
“He has a contract with this club, so that contract means he has to do everything and just to help us, this is the deal we made.
“I don’t care about the mentality for the Euros, this is something like a bonus for him.
“The most important thing is that he helps us win games, that he helps us in climbing the table and that he helps us maybe come into the FA Cup final.
“This is the deal we have with him, and so long as he is here, he tries to give his part to this deal and we give our part of the deal.
“We offer him everything that is possible to make him better – and this is how it should be with every player.”
However, Hasenhuttl feels Ings has all the qualities needed to make Southgate’s final 23-man cut.
“Ingsy is definitely one of them (players in contention) and when he is fit, when he plays well and when he scores, then he must be part of this (England squad),” the Saints boss said.
“But he has to stay fit and go in the battle, and then he has a chance I think.”
Hasenhuttl accepts the form of Ings has been directly linked to that of the team.
With nine goals this season, the striker is some way short of his 22-goal return in 2019/20.
However, in the eight matches he has scored for Saints, they have picked up 16 points, almost half of their 36-point haul.
“This is not such a big secret that he is important for our game, definitely,” said the Southampton manager, who saw his side plummet down the table in 2021 after picking up one point from a possible 27.
“He is even more important when he is fit and can run and do the job that he did in the last game.
“Then he has the quality to score, then he has the quality to prepare chances and I think this is what we missed, definitely.”
The post Hasenhuttl: Ings has to put Southampton’s needs before his own appeared first on Football365.