BBC football pundit Fara Williams has backed Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap to get an England call-up later this week.

Delap, 22, has been one of few bright spots in a tough top tier season for the Blues, often bullying world class defenders and bagging 10 goals in 27 games so far.

And that’s prompted former England international Williams to suggest that he may get a call-up when new national boss Thomas Tuchel names his first squad on Friday.

Thomas Tuchel in the stands at Selhurst Park on Saturday 

The German has reportedly drawn up a 55-name long list of players who could be included, and was in the stands at Selhurst Park as Delap and Town lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

While he apparently texted Palace’s England hopefuls – the likes of Dean Henderson, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze – a good luck message before the game, he would no doubt have also been keen to have a look at Delap.

And in her latest column for BBC Sport, Williams said she believes Delap offers something that no other English striker does.

“Liam Delap has shone in an Ipswich team that are potentially going to go back down and could be a real option for Tuchel,” she wrote.

Fara Williams has backed Delap for England

“In terms of his goals and his presence, he has an ugly, old-school type of approach to his game. I don’t think any of the other English strikers have that.

“He has that style of being willing to have a fight with a defender even as a lone striker and I don’t think the others have that in their locker.

“In terms of what he does with the ball in front of goal, he’s a really calm finisher. He’s somebody that given time is definitely an option for Tuchel and he could look at him in this squad as a back-up to Harry Kane, who cannot play forever.

“To get those goals and have the season he has had in a very average Ipswich team in the Premier League, it has not been easy.”

Liam Delap has bagged 10 Premier League goals so far this season 

Williams concluded: “In terms of finishing in the box, he is similar to Kane but I don’t think Kane has the physical side in the same way.

“Delap is better at that than him but he is not able to drop into pockets and find forward passes as well as Kane can.

“Delap has some similar attributes to Kane but also offers something different and is definitely in with a shout for featuring in the upcoming international break.”

England host Albania in a World Cup qualifier on Friday, March 21st, in Tuchel’s first game in charge.

They then entertain Latvia in another qualifier on Monday, March 24th.

Ipswich Town captain Luke Woolfenden confirmed that he was subject to interest from Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in the most recent transfer window.

Defender Woolfenden came through the Tractor Boys’ academy to make over 200 appearances for Ipswich, but was heavily linked to a move away in January following the arrival of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta.

But no move was forthcoming, leaving the towering centre-back to remain at Portman Road.

Luke Woolfenden confirms transfer interest from Sheffield United during January transfer window

After earning back-to-back promotions under Kieran McKenna, flying from League One to the Premier League in consecutive seasons, Ipswich strengthened heavily over the summer to reinforce their squad ahead of their top-flight return.

The defence saw multiple new signings, with new centre-backs Jacob Greaves and Dara O’Shea arriving from Hull City and Burnley respectively.

As such, Woolfenden saw his 40 starts during last season’s Championship campaign turn into just 9 starts in Ipswich’s 28 Premier League games so far this year.

With Woolfenden’s gametime limited at Portman Road, naturally there was interest from other clubs.

Sheffield United were attributed with interest, as well as more exotic destinations such as MLS outfit Inter Miami.

Inter Miami, owned by former England star David Beckham, currently boast a squad of seasoned internationals such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi.

Woolfenden quickly quashed suggestions that he was wanted by Inter Miami, but did confirm to the East Anglian Daily Times that there had been interest from other clubs, including Sheffield United.

Asked by the EADT about the rumours linking him to Sheffield United and Inter Miami, Woolfenden shared: “There’s interest most windows. I think that’s part and parcel of being a footballer.

“The Inter Miami one was a bit wide of the mark because otherwise I’m not sure I’d be sitting here! I’d be playing with Messi!

“So I’m not sure that one was true, but there was certainly interest from elsewhere.”

Sheffield United have been long-term admirers of Luke Woolfenden

It is not the first time Sheffield United have looked to sign Woolfenden, with the defender first catching their eye in 2020.

At the time, Ipswich were plying their trade in League One, whilst the Blades were in the Premier League during current manager Chris Wilder’s first stint in charge.

Back in 2020, Woolfenden addressed the transfer speculation, sharing: “It’s nice to be linked with big clubs but I’m focused on taking Ipswich back to where we should be.

“I don’t really get involved in all of that (transfer talk). Everybody knows what I’m like. There’s been no bids so there’s nothing to worry about.

“Everyone’s dream and goal is to play as high as they possibly can and for me I obviously want to play in the Premier League, but that doesn’t mean I want to leave right now.

“Ipswich is a massive club so if I could get to the Premier League with Ipswich it would be unbelievable.

“Ipswich Town shouldn’t be in League One so to get them promoted, as an Ipswich lad, would be massive.”

But things quickly changed for Woolfenden when Paul Cook replaced Paul Lambert as manager.

He found himself training with the Tractor Boys’ reserves, believing his future to lie elsewhere.

Woolfenden shared: “I was training with the Under 23s most of the time so I was nailed on to go.

“I was waking up most mornings and wanting to be anywhere else other than Ipswich.”

However, it would take until 2025 for the Blades to reignite their interest in the defender.

But Sheffield United’s hopes of signing the 26-year-old have been diminished by the fact that Woolfenden has signed a new deal with Ipswich.

The centre-back had been set to be out of contract this summer, but will now remain at his first professional club until the summer of 2027.

“I’ve said over the last few years that this is probably the best place to be in the Football League,” continued Woolfenden.

“It’s a club that, besides the manager, has a lot of ambition behind it with the owners, with Mark (Ashton), that it’s driven to keep this club where it is now. So it was a really good feeling to get the contract done.

“I’ve said numerous times that I love working here under the boss and the coaching staff.

“Every session is enjoyable. You don’t need to play every game here to improve as a player, whereas at other clubs you might have a bit of a jolly up and just go through the motions. Here we’re bang at it every day.”