Tammy Abraham has “really good attributes” and the Chelsea striker should target Harry Kane’s England starting berth as his “next step”, says Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The in-form 22-year-old, who has scored seven goals in seven games for Frank Lampard’s side, was named in the England squad on Thursday for the European Qualifiers against Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Abraham, whose call-up came almost two years after his first, is one goal behind Sergio Aguero in the top goalscorers in the Premier League so far this season and Hasselbaink says he must now look to replicate his domestic form on the international stage.
“As a young boy when you dream of being a footballer you want to play at the highest level and the highest level is England,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports News .
He has to try to get [Harry] Kane’s position. It is not easy but that is going to be the next step.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Tammy Abaham
“He has been called up. He is going to get the chance and he has to compare himself with the best [striker] and that is Kane at the moment.
“He has to try to get Kane’s position. It is not easy but that is going to be the next step. He has been invited for the England national squad. Now can you make that place yours?
“The only way is to do well for Chelsea, keep on scoring and when you go with England show that you can do it on that level as well.”
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Academy product Abraham has had loans at Bristol City, Swansea and Aston Villa in the past three years but a transfer embargo during the summer and Lampard’s determination to trust the youth has benefited him.
Abraham, who scored his first Champions League goal in the club’s 2-1 win at Lille on Wednesday, will look to continue his rich vein of form in Chelsea’s final game before the latest international break against Southampton on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League
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