England’s Lost Starlets

It’s common in cricket – half our team is South African. But our football team doesn’t (generally) purloin talent from other nations. We’re not Ireland. It appears we have lost a couple though…

Perhaps the best known is Aaron Hunt. The 23 year old currently plays for Werder Bremen, and has made a couple of appearances for the German National side. He is said to be a great talent, and plays upfront or as a winger or attacking midfielder. And he looks a bit like Jensen Button. England made a tentative approach for him last year, but were ‘laughed off’ by Werder (the the words of The Guardian). Hunt is eligible to play for England through his mother – she’s English, while his father is German. Stuart Pearce was disappointed he could not lure Hunt, suggesting he is a loss. As does this video:

Another that the Germans have stolen is Lewis Holtby.

Holtby is 19 and currently contracted to Alemannia Achen. But Man United are chasing him, no less, suggesting he is another talented emigrant. Arsenal are also said to be interested. Holtby’s father is English and his mother German but like Hunt, he has chosen to follow his Teutonic roots. If he does ever return to Britain, he’s stated a preference for Everton, his father’s team. But Germany remains his international preference. Another loss to Capello?

There are others, too – Simone Perrotta the most notable, currently a regular for the Italian national side but born in Ashton-under-Lyne. If Hunt and Holtby fulfil their considerable potential in a couple of years, along with Perrotta they could have added a lot to the England side.

And at the moment, it sure looks like we need it.