Why James Justin's England chance is now right around the corner
Leeds United's James Justin could soon be adding to his one senior England cap.
The 28-year-old won that cap in a Nations League game against Hungary in June 2022.
Since then, he's left Leicester City and has been calling Leeds his home since August last year.
He's proven to be a superb value signing for the Whites, with his versatility and reliability seeing him become invaluable to Daniel Farke.
And with the first international break now upon us, Justin's form through the opening weeks of 2026-27 has seen his name touted with a Three Lions call.
Thomas Tuchel didn't dial his number, however, but Justin has the numbers the England boss needs to make sure he rings next time.
Where does James Justin lead Premier League rivals this season?
Speaking via The Yorkshire Post, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has backed Justin and his Leeds teammate Jayden Bogle to be in the England team.
“If they keep their consistency, yes, why not?" the former Whites striker said.
Sometimes, pundits and fans alike, especially those of the club a certain player represents, can go over the top in their calls for international call-ups.
As such, some may see the demand for Justin to be selected by Tuchel as being an example of that, but his numbers show why it's totally justifiable.
Per FotMob, no centre-back in the Premier League has covered more distance (57.0 kilometres), ran more kilometres (11.3) or made more sprints (72) than Justin.
Admittedly, he has also been used at wing-back so this may skew his figures somewhat.
On top of that, he also leads all top-flight central defenders for tackles won (16), and is in the top 4.7 per cent for his 33 duels won.
Justin's four chances created rank him in the leading 6.2 percentile, whilst his two successful crosses are more than any player in his position too.
So, why might Justin be about to win favour with Tuchel, and why might it come from the England manager's tactical philosophy?
Farke could be set to help Justin win England opportunities
As detailed in Sky Sports News report, Tuchel has admitted that possession-based football isn't in England's DNA.
In the Three Lions' 3-2 loss to Spain on Saturday night, it was the World Champions who edged the possession numbers with 53 per cent.
So, this potential shift towards a more counter-attacking style under Tuchel can only work in Justin's favour regarding a future selection.
Under Farke, Leeds have also transitioned towards a more direct, counter-attacking approach, with the German previously favouring the opposite.
Previously, Justin's 73.3 per cent pass success rate so far this term - the lowest of any Premier League centre-back - could've been a block on an England call.
However, with playing out from the back and slow build-up play now possibly on the Three Lions' tactical scrapheap, Justin could be an ideal fit in Tuchel's eyes.