England U21s interim manager Ben Futcher has showered praise on Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap following his performance in England’s 2-1 victory over Ukraine, which secured their spot in next summer’s U21 EURO finals.
The game, held in Bournemouth, saw two late goals from James McAtee seal the win.
Futcher, speaking to football journalist Henry Winter, highlighted Delap’s impact, noting his impressive Premier League form with four goals in seven games. “He’s given their centre-halves a real rough night,” Futcher remarked. “Liam was an absolute handful. If you want to go and fight him, he’ll match you. If you want to race him, he’ll win the race.” Futcher further emphasized, “He’s very difficult to deal with, he’s quick, he’s powerful, he’s in good form in the Premier League. Liam’s a top number nine and he’s going to keep developing.”
Futcher also acknowledged Ipswich Town’s fortune in having such a talented striker in Delap. Delap, alongside his Town teammate Omari Hutchinson, who also impressed, received a booking for dissent during the game, meaning he will miss the final qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday.
While addressing Delap’s fiery temperament, Futcher noted the importance of controlling his aggression: “It’s a good aggression. I wouldn’t be trying to take any aggression out of him because that’s one of his major strengths. But he needs to learn to control it. He’s suspended for the next game now.”
