Brighton Midfielder Backs Jason Steele as England's Secret Weapon for World Cup
Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood has thrown his weight behind the England call-up for teammate Jason Steele, labeling the goalkeeper a potential “secret weapon” for the Three Lions. The decision by coach Thomas Tuchel to include Steele in the squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, aimed at positioning him as a training goalkeeper for the World Cup, sparked some initial skepticism. Hinshelwood, who is currently with the England Under-21s, emphasizes that the 35-year-old goalkeeper brings much more than just shot-stopping skills. He stated, "Firstly, his quality is unbelievable. I think people don’t know that. His quality as a keeper, with his feet and his shot-stopping ability is also incredible. So he’s also an unbelievable player and he deserves it." Beyond his technical abilities, Hinshelwood praised Steele’s leadership in the dressing room. He mentioned, "He’s a great guy and a big leader for us in the changing room. He’s always quite vocal before a game, whether that’s giving advice or just trying to gee up the lads a bit." Steele’s unique talents extend to his exceptional darts skills, which have become a popular pastime during England’s tournament camps. Hinshelwood noted, "He’s such a well-respected figure as well, annoyingly good at darts. He’s frightening. He’s really good, 180s – they’re just casual for him." Concluding his endorsement, Hinshelwood remarked on Steele’s impact on creating a high-performance environment at Brighton, stating, "He really pushes the standards at Brighton and he’s great for the young lads and he provides that experience in the changing room. I think that’s exactly what he’ll bring here. He’s a great guy to be around. He’ll push training. I think he can be a big asset." Meanwhile, Hinshelwood is gearing up for the England Under-21s’ 2027 European Championship qualification matches against Andorra on Friday and Moldova next Tuesday.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-03-25