Coventry City striker moves closer to international call as team plan for life without Regular striker
Ellis Simms has taken a step closer to becoming a senior international after applying for a Polish passport.
The Coventry City striker was called up to represent England Under-20s earlier in the career and is also eligible to play for Jamaica.
The English-born player, however, has Polish roots on his mother’s side, with his grandmother having been born in Poland and the Sky Blues striker has been on the Polish Football Association’s radar for several years.
Adrian Mierzejewski, the national team director, explained the status of his eligibility, saying earlier this month: “We’ve checked the situation. Ellis has Polish roots, has already submitted documents to the consulate, and is waiting for a Polish passport. We’re open to this solution but we’re calmly awaiting developments.”
Meanwhile, according to Polish outlet Przegląd Sportowy Onet, Spanish coach Kibu Vicuna – who recently joined national team manager Jan Urban’s coaching staff – was tasked with flying to England this month specifically to watch the striker, another sign that the Polish Football Association is seriously considering the possibility of calling up the 25-year-old for duty.
Mierzejewski confirmed that the national team has seen Simms in action, describing him as a strong, hard-working player who can score goals.
Speaking to Polish outlet meczyki, the director of the Polish national team said: “We do not treat him as the salvation of the national team but he gives us other opportunities.”
The squad are playing three games during the current international break – against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one each against Romania and Sweden, although Simms was not called up due to waiting for his documentation to be processed.
Head coach Jan Urban was asked about the possible call-up of the Coventry player, telling TVP Sport: “First, papers, passport and so on. Then he’ll be treated like everyone else. If he’s needed he’ll be called up depending on the form.
“He’s not Haaland, he’s not some random player. He played in the Championship, he didn’t look good at Everton but we’re keeping an eye on him,” he added.
Urban, however, admits that the situation with the attacking line-up isn’t looking good with veteran star man Robert Lewandowski, 38, saying that the national team should prepare for life without him.
“Things aren’t looking too rosy right now. Robert Lewandowski is too intelligent a player and person to be wasting his time in the national team,” the coach said.
