“Someone whispered in my ear” – Southampton star now ‘stands good chance’ of making WC squad

Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia ‘stands a good chance’ of making Belgium’s World Cup squad in the coming weeks.

That’s according to analyst Philippe Albert, who says he has received inside information on Roberto Martinez’s World Cup plans.

The Belgium boss is set to name his 26-man squad for the tournament later this month ahead of the start of the competition on the 20^th.

He will be whittling down his initial provisional squad in the next few days and several reports have hinted Southampton’s Lavia could be on it.

He’s yet to make his debut for Belgium but has played for them at every youth level from U15s to the U21s.

The midfielder has also been impressing for Southampton since signing from Manchester City in the summer and it was felt that it was only a hamstring injury picked up at the end of October that kept him out of the Belgium squad for the last international break.

Since then, it’s been explained he could be a surprise inclusion regardless, and Albert says he has heard as much himself.

“Last week, someone whispered in my ear that Roméo Lavia would be among the 26,” Voetbal Nieuws report him saying.

“Nicolas Raskin and Bryan Heynen could also be an option, but Lavia stands a good chance.”