Once upon a time, current Preston star Ryan Ledson was being backed for a role in the England team under Gareth Southgate.
Planet Football noted that Ledson was one player being tipped for a breakthrough into the England setup whilst still playing for Everton.
Having excelled in the England youth ranks, Ledson was being backed to play for England at Euro 2020 – but that hasn’t quite happened.
Ledson has taken a different path; he left Everton for Oxford United before stepping up to the Championship with Preston in 2018.
Now one of North End’s key players have enjoyed rapid progress over the last year or so, Ledson may be some way off playing for England but is still adored at Deepdale.
With England thriving at Euro 2012, some of Gareth Southgate’s old tweets have been dug up – and one featured Ledson.
Ledson captained England to the Under-17 European Championship title in 2014, which is why many were backing him for future success with the Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate took to Twitter after that win by praising Ledson, stating that him being captain of the European Champions had a ‘nice ring to it’.
Maybe in another world, Ledson is skippering England to success this summer, but we would love him to lead North End to glory this coming season – all in the knowledge that Southgate has been a big fan.