Southampton: Martin delighted for Harwood-Bellis after England call-up

Harwood-Bellis has been included in England's 26-man squad for their double-header against Greece and the Republic of Ireland later this month.

The 22 year old captained Lee Carsley's European Championship-winning under-21 side in 2023, leading the Young Lions to a perfect defensive record.

Summer signing Aaron Ramsdale also received a recall having been absent from the last two squads.

Previewing Southampton's trip to Wolves, Martin revealed he believes the defender will head to England duty to force his way into the team. 

He said: "Lee knows him very well, he's been his captain for a while so he knows what he can bring.

Aaron Ramsdale is back in the England squad (Image: PA) "I think for us he's been huge. This season we had a difficult start and I think a lot of our players took a bit of time to feel like they belong here and can compete here.

"In the last couple of weeks, we've seen Taylor grow a lot as a character and leader on the pitch. He's taken a big responsibility, which he always has done for us with the ball.

"His mentality to defend, to head the ball, to be aggressive, to attack the ball at set-pieces is where he's become a real threat. He has to keep improving.

"He has a lot of work to do but he's also an extremely talented young man with an amazing mindset and mentality, which is obviously why we were so keen to get him last season.

"Fortunately, we got promoted so we were able to keep him and now he's grown again and he has to continue to do that. It'll be brilliant for him.

"I know he's trained in and around the squad before anyway when the under-21s have been used in training with the first team. I don't think he'll have any worries about that.

"Knowing Taylor, he'll just be desperate to get on the pitch and try and force his way into it. I'm really delighted for him, as I am for Rambo to get back into the squad.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has scored three times this season (Image: Stuart Martin) "He's been amazing for us since he came in. In the last couple of games, he's really been big. He got the clean sheet he deserved on the weekend. It's good.

"Football's never linear. It's never easy and it's never straightforward. Aaron is a top player who's had to work the hard way to get there.

"Then he had a bit of frustration recently and now finds himself in a place where he's really loved and really appreciated and is a big, big part of it.

"His biggest asset is his mentality so the fact that he has bounced back from a lot of adversity just doesn't surprise me one bit.

"That's also a big reason why we wanted him here because we knew it wasn't going to be easy and there'll be times when we are having a difficult period."