Jean-Philippe Mateta says Eberechi Eze should be picked if England want to win the European Championship this summer.
Eze, like Mateta, has enjoyed a brilliant end to the campaign for the Eagles, scoring five times and registering two assists to help secure a 10th-place finish.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate picks his squad for the tournament in Germany and, having missed out on the March selection due to injury, Mateta believes his Palace team-mate could be key to success.
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He told Sky Sports: “[Southgate] has to call him. He has to, if you want to win something.”
Two-cap international Eze, 25, was more diplomatic when asked about the tournament, saying: “I’m just here, man, just trying to enjoy it, playing football.
“If I get called, then so be it.”
‘They players did what they can’
Eze is not the only Eagles man being backed for inclusion, with midfielder Adam Wharton enjoying a superb start to Premier League life following the 20-year-old’s January move from Blackburn.
Meanwhile, Dean Henderson is in with a shot of claiming a goalkeeper’s spot and Marc Guehi could return to the defence following injury.
And while manager Oliver Glasner admitted it is Southgate who has the final say, he said his in-form stars have given themselves the best possible chance.
The Austrian said: “Of course when they are nominated we wish all of our players the best.
“The players did what they can do, and now it’s up to Gareth Southgate. We have several players who could be nominated and then we will see.
“I don’t give any advice to any national team manager. I know my players, all of them with the performances in the last weeks, since we [arrived] here, deserve to be nominated for the national team, but I don’t know all the other players.
“It’s Southgate’s job to find the right one, it’s not my job, so on Tuesday I would like to be at home.
“I would like to be on the terrace but it is raining at home, so I’ll read what happens.”
