Eberechi Eze can be one of the surprise inclusions in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira believes that Eberechi Eze can be one of the surprise inclusions in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup.

Eze, 24, has yet to feature in a Three Lions squad under former Crystal Palace captain Southgate.

The Greenwich-born playmaker was set to be included in the provisional 33-man squad ahead of Euro 2020 before suffering a serious achilles injury in training ahead of the penultimate game of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

Former QPR player Eze has started every game this season under Vieira and scored his first goal of the season against Leeds United in the 2-1 win in the Eagles’ most recent match played at Selhurst Park.

Eze, who made eight appearances during his time with the England U21 squad, also has two assists to his name this season.

England boss Southgate was at the King Power on Saturday to watch Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Leicester City.

“I think he [Southgate] was there as well to look at Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell,” said Vieira, when asked about Eze’s chances of making a late run into the England side.

“We have a couple of players who can dream of going to the World Cup because their names have been on the table.

“If we perform well as a team, those players are always going to have a chance to go. Ebs is, of course, one of them because he has been playing well and scoring goals.

“I always believe that when you’re building a group for a World Cup, you always have one or two surprises – he can be one of them.”

The Three Lions have been drawn in Group B alongside Iran, USA and Wales. Mitchell made his England debut in the 2-1 win over Switzerland in March, replacing Luke Shaw in the 61st minute at Wembley. He followed that up with his first start for the national side in the 3-0 win over Ivory Coast but has not been called up since.

Lewisham-raised Guehi also made his debut in the win over Switzerland and has been included in Southgate’s last three squads.

Speaking on the characters of the Palace trio, Vieira added: “There is no doubt about it. On the field and off the field, they are players that the manager can rely on with no problems at all.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD