Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood has enthusiastically endorsed the England call-up for his club teammate Jason Steele, suggesting the goalkeeper could be a “secret weapon” for the Three Lions.
The decision by Thomas Tuchel to include Steele in the squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, with a view to him serving as a training goalkeeper at the World Cup, initially raised some eyebrows.
However, Hinshelwood, currently with the England Under-21s, believes the 35-year-old will seamlessly integrate into Tuchel’s setup and bring more than just shot-stopping ability.
"Firstly, his quality is unbelievable. I think people don’t know that," the 20-year-old stated. "His quality as a keeper, with his feet and his shot-stopping ability is also incredible. So he’s also an unbelievable player and he deserves it."
Beyond his goalkeeping prowess, Hinshelwood highlighted Steele’s significant presence in the dressing room.
"He’s a great guy and a big leader for us in the changing room," he explained. "He’s always quite vocal before a game, whether that’s giving advice or just trying to gee up the lads a bit."
Adding a unique dimension to his value, Steele is also renowned for his exceptional darts skills, a pastime that has become a fixture in England’s tournament camps.
"He’s such a well-respected figure as well, annoyingly good at darts," Hinshelwood revealed. "He’s frightening. He’s really good, 180s – they’re just casual for him."
Hinshelwood concluded that Steele’s influence extends to fostering a high-performance environment.
"He really pushes the standards at Brighton and he’s great for the young lads and he provides that experience in the changing room. I think that’s exactly what he’ll bring here. He’s a great guy to be around. He’ll push training. I think he can be a big asset."
Meanwhile, Hinshelwood himself is preparing for England Under-21s’ 2027 European Championship qualification matches against Andorra on Friday and Moldova next Tuesday.
